Gaziz Akbasov, Kazakhstan’s ambassador in Kabul, met with Mohammad Isa Thani, the acting minister of public works.
During the meeting, the two sides discussed expanding economic and trade relations, investment in infrastructure projects, and railway development.
Mohammad Ashraf Haqshenas, spokesperson for the Ministry of Public Works, said that Thani highlighted various ongoing railway projects and noted that there are currently many opportunities for investment in this sector.
Haqshenas said: “In this meeting, both sides held comprehensive discussions on trade goods transportation to Afghanistan, increasing transit of commercial goods through Afghanistan to other countries, and investment by Kazakhstani companies in Afghanistan’s infrastructure projects—particularly railways.”
Some economic experts said that cooperation with Central Asian countries, especially Kazakhstan, in various sectors including railways, will benefit Afghanistan’s economy.
Ahmad Firdaws Bahguzin, an economic analyst, said: “Kazakhstan has recently shown interest in constructing railway lines, which is a major opportunity we must seize. With railway access, we can expand our trade relations.”
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs hosted a scientific seminar in Kabul titled “Emerging Opportunities in Afghanistan-Kazakhstan Relations.”
At this event, both parties discussed bilateral relations and the prospects for enhancing these ties.
Yerkin Tukumov, head of Strategic Studies in Kazakhstan, referring to a new chapter in Kabul-Tashkent relations, said that high-level Kazakhstani delegations will visit Afghanistan in the near future.
Mir Shakir Yaqubi, another economic expert, stated: “Given Afghanistan’s weak economic ties with most countries, we urgently need stronger relations with Central Asia—especially Kazakhstan. Since we import much of our grain from Kazakhstan, boosting this relationship could significantly impact imports and exports.”
Previously, the Ministry of Industry and Commerce had announced that an agreement had been reached with Kazakhstan to raise annual trade volume between the two countries to three billion dollars.