Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs, met today (Thursday, July 10) at the Emirati Palace with Murat Nurtleu, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan, to discuss trade, transit, railways, banking, and economic cooperation.
According to a statement from the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs, Mr. Baradar described the relationship between Afghanistan and Kazakhstan as positive and progressing, adding that the Islamic Emirate is working to expand cooperation with Kazakhstan in areas that contribute to Afghanistan’s prosperity and development.
Mr. Baradar assured the Kazakh side that Afghanistan can serve as an effective transit corridor, enabling Kazakhstan to transport its energy to South Asia through Afghan territory.
Meanwhile, Kazakhstan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister stated that his country continues to support Afghanistan on the international stage and believes that there is a favorable environment for close cooperation between the two countries in various sectors.
He added that Kazakhstan is ready to begin practical investment in the Herat–Torghundi railway project, valued at $500 million.
He also expressed Kazakhstan’s readiness to increase electricity exports to Afghanistan, facilitate the export of Afghan agricultural products to Kazakh markets, and open accounts for Afghan banks in Kazakhstan’s Azadi and Zaman banks.
The Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs welcomed Kazakhstan’s investment in the Herat–Torghundi railway project, calling it a significant step toward enhancing trade and transit between the two countries.
The statement concluded by noting that both sides have signed an agreement to initiate Kazakhstan’s $500 million investment in the Herat–Torghundi railway project.