The Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar Akhund, met with a delegation led by Sergey Shoigu, Secretary of the Security Council of the Russian Federation at ARG palace. The meeting also included the Minister of Industry and Commerce, Nooruddin Azizi, the Minister of Economy, Qari Din Mohammad Hanif, the Deputy Prime Minister of Russia, Alexei Overchuk, Russia’s Special Representative for Afghanistan, Zamir Kabulov, and other high-ranking officials from both nations.
The discussions centered on fortifying political ties, advancing economic collaboration, augmenting trade and transit activities, and incentivizing Russian investment in Afghanistan.
Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar Akhund underscored the Islamic Emirate’s economy-driven foreign policy, asserting that Afghanistan, owing to its renewed security and stability, has emerged as a pivotal hub for regional economic cooperation, trade, and transit, benefitting both the nation and its neighbors.
He further elaborated on the Islamic Emirate’s efforts to bolster national security and promote economic growth, highlighting measures such as the prohibition of narcotics cultivation and the eradication of entities detrimental to the region’s security and economic stability. He stressed Afghanistan's intent to play a decisive role in bolstering the North-South Economic Corridor to enhance regional connectivity and solicited Russian collaboration in facilitating Afghanistan's exports to both neighboring and distant markets.
The Deputy Prime Minister emphasized that elevating the formal relationship between the two nations would unlock numerous avenues for economic advancement. He reaffirmed Afghanistan’s resolve to serve as a responsible economic partner within the region.
Mr. Sergey Shoigu, Secretary of the Russian Federation’s Security Council, acknowledged Afghanistan’s recent strides in political, economic, and security domains. He stated that his visit was undertaken under the directive of the Russian President and underscored Russia’s aspiration to strengthen bilateral cooperation with Afghanistan. Mr. Shoigu further announced imminent steps to delist the Islamic Emirate’s name from Russia’s blacklist to facilitate expanded political and economic engagement.
The Russian delegation affirmed support for the Afghan-Trans project and expressed readiness to operationalize prior economic agreements forged during the St. Petersburg Economic Forum. Moreover, Russian investors and state enterprises exhibited keen interest in investing in Afghanistan's mining, transportation, and agriculture sectors.
In conclusion, both parties concurred on establishing a joint governmental commission aimed at advancing cooperation in trade, transit, and investment. This commission would oversee the activities of specialized committees in various sectors.
