Kazakhstan and Afghanistan Sign Agricultural Supply Agreements
Kazakhstan and Afghanistan have recently come to an agreement worth over $12 million for the supply of sunflower oil, cereal products, and flour. This deal was reached at the Kazakh-Afghan business forum held in Kabul, as reported by the Prime Minister’s press service on April 26.
The forum also saw the participation of 35 Kazakh companies, showcasing their products and services at a thematic exhibition during the official visit to Afghanistan. Afghan companies have shown interest in motor oil and are looking to sign their first contract with Kazakh suppliers.
Deputy Prime Minister Serik Zhumangarin emphasized the goal of increasing bilateral trade turnover to $3 billion, as set during the Afghan delegation’s previous visit to Kazakhstan. He proposed exploring collaboration in the chemical industry, mining and metallurgy, geological exploration, mineral processing, and IT technologies.
Additionally, Kazakhstan is keen on supplying domestically produced cars with the subsequent establishment of dealership centers in Afghanistan. Furthermore, there are plans to enhance cooperation in higher education and science by doubling annual grants for Afghan citizens studying at Kazakh universities and hosting children from Afghanistan at Kazakh summer camps.
Kazakhstan’s Trade House has commenced operations in Herat, further bolstering trade and economic ties between Kazakhstan and Afghanistan. The country’s National Information Technologies sector is ready to share digital solutions like Data Lake, Smart Bridge, and Gov.kz with Afghan partners to improve public services and internet connectivity, especially in educational institutions.
In terms of telecommunications, discussions between Kazakhtelecom and Afghantelecom are underway to increase internet traffic to Afghanistan from 60 to 100 gigabits per second. Notably, Kazakhstan holds the 28th position in the United Nations Global E-Government Development Index, excelling in the online services sub-category with 94% of government services automated and digitized. In 2023, the country witnessed a fivefold increase in exports of IT products and services, reaching $500 million.
These developments highlight the growing partnership between Kazakhstan and Afghanistan, paving the way for enhanced economic cooperation and technological advancement between the two nations.
