CASA, MMC, wheat and a medical mission: the Kazakhstan-Afghanistan business forum and exhibition of Afghan goods have started in Shymkent

The third annual exhibition of Afghan goods has started in Shymkent. Traditionally, masters from Afghanistan present leather and carpet goods, construction materials, sweets, dried fruits, non-alcoholic beverages, vegetables and fruits, precious stones, jewelry, and handmade items in Kazakhstan.

As Vice Premier – Minister of National Economy Serik Zhumangarin noted at the opening of the exhibition, the scale of the exhibition is growing every year: this year, over 180 representatives of Afghan business have arrived in Shymkent.

On the same day, a Kazakhstan-Afghanistan business forum was held in Shymkent, which brought together representatives of government bodies, industry companies, and business circles of the two countries.

«Afghanistan is one of Kazakhstan's most important trade partners in South Asia. Our countries have extensive potential for developing cooperation both in a bilateral format and on the scale of the entire region», — emphasized Serik Zhumangarin, speaking at the business forum.

Mutual trade between the countries last year amounted to $545,2 million, and for the 8 months of 2025 – $335,9 million. Despite some decrease in the supply of certain goods, this year there has been an increase in the export volumes of Kazakhstani wheat by 2,9 times, sunflower oil – by 3,1 times, as well as an increase in the supply of petroleum products and freight vehicles – by 100%.

«According to forecasts, this year the export potential of wheat alone will be 9.6 million tons. Kazakhstan is interested in expanding the export of high-quality grain, flour, rice, and sugar to Afghanistan. The production volumes of these products in Kazakhstan are growing year by year thanks to the application of modern agricultural technologies», — noted the vice-premier.

For his part, the Minister of Commerce and Industry of Afghanistan, Nuriddin Azizi, noted that the business forums and exhibitions give a powerful impetus to the development of relations between the countries, inviting Kazakhstani investors to implement projects in the spheres of agriculture, energy, transport, mining, and construction.

Joint projects: from MMC to machine building

Special attention at the forum was paid to the prospects of joint development of production in the mining-metallurgical, automotive, chemical, and construction spheres. The Kazakhstani side expressed its readiness to consider the possibility of increasing the supply of domestically produced railway locomotives and freight vehicles to Afghanistan.

Negotiations are ongoing on the joint development of the mining and metallurgical complex on the territory of Afghanistan. During the April visit of the Kazakhstani delegation to Kabul, led by Vice Premier Serik Zhumangarin, the companies «Kazatomprom» and «Kazakhmys» conducted two geological missions, during which they studied beryllium and lead deposits. Following the missions, «Kazakhmys Barlau» LLP began exploration work at a mineral deposit in Laghman province.

Currently, the company ERG Exploration is negotiating with the Afghan side to obtain additional geological information. After the necessary research is completed, ERG plans to join the geological exploration projects in Afghanistan.

Humanitarian mission of Kazakhstan

Kazakhstan continues to provide humanitarian assistance to the Afghan people. As was announced at the forum, a medical mission of Kazakhstani doctors will soon be sent to the country to provide assistance to the earthquake victims. Earlier, in September, a humanitarian cargo of 26 wagons with food, medicine, warm clothing, and other essential items was sent to Afghanistan.

CASA – a new trade axis

During a bilateral meeting between Serik Zhumangarin and Nuriddin Azizi, the parties discussed the prospects of creating a transit corridor Kazakhstan – Turkmenistan – Afghanistan – Pakistan with the construction of the Herat – Turgundi railway route.

It should be recalled that this Trans-Afghan corridor with an outlet to the Pakistani port of Karachi, combined with the «North–South» project, will open access to the ports of the Persian Gulf and India. In aggregate, these projects form a new Central Asia – South Asia (CASA) trade axis.

The Afghan delegation also visited the construction site of the International Center for Industrial Cooperation «Central Asia» (ICIC) in the Turkistan region, where opportunities for organizing joint investment projects were presented. At the ICIC site, work is already underway on road construction, bringing in engineering infrastructure, and constructing production buildings. A pool of 7 projects has been formed, which will become the first residents of the ICIC.

In addition, the delegation reviewed the progress of the completion of work on the construction of the industrial greenhouse complex «Eco-culture».