Kazakhstan plans to boost trade with Afghanistan from $500 million to $3 billion, backed by infrastructure and transit projects designed to strengthen regional connectivity and improve access to global markets.
Kazakhstan is deepening its economic engagement with Afghanistan, focusing on trade, logistics and infrastructure as part of a broader effort to reinforce its role in regional connectivity.
According to Presidential Special Representative for Afghanistan Yerkin Tukumov, bilateral trade has already reached a stable baseline, but authorities are now seeking to expand it significantly through the development of transport corridors and export routes.
Annual trade between the two countries currently stands at around $500 million, with a target to raise this figure to $3 billion in the coming years.
This ambition reflects Kazakhstan’s growing interest in Afghanistan not only as a trading partner but also as a key component of emerging transit networks linking Central Asia with South Asia and the Middle East.
Trade flows remain heavily skewed in Kazakhstan’s favour. Exports are dominated by grain, flour and processed agricultural products, while Afghan shipments are limited to smaller volumes of goods such as agricultural produce and carpets
This imbalance highlights structural constraints in Afghanistan’s economy, but also points to scope for diversification, particularly in Kazakhstan’s import profile.
A major constraint on expanding trade is limited transport connectivity, placing infrastructure at the centre of bilateral co-operation. Among the key projects is the Turgundi–Herat railway, alongside the development of related infrastructure, including digital networks.
These initiatives are expected to reduce delivery times and costs, creating the conditions for higher trade volumes.
Beyond bilateral exchange, the strategic value of these efforts lies in their transit potential. Improved routes through Afghanistan could provide Kazakhstan with more direct access to seaports, which is critical for a landlocked economy seeking to broaden its export reach.
This would allow Kazakh goods to access global markets more efficiently while integrating the country into wider regional supply chains.
In the longer term, these projects support Kazakhstan’s ambition to position itself as a transit hub across Eurasia. By developing alternative corridors and reducing reliance on existing routes, Astana is aiming to strengthen its economic resilience amid shifting trade dynamics.
Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa has said his country could provide a “safe corridor” and “alternative route” for regional ...
An average of at least 47 women and girls were killed each day during the war in Gaza, according to new figures released by UN Women....
U.S. President Donald Trump and Iran’s Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, have said the Strait...
A remarkable discovery at the ancient ruins of Sanxingdui offers a glimpse into what appears to be otherworldly craftsmanship - an axe believed to ...
China is seeking to strengthen and upgrade its cooperation with Turkmenistan, focusing on what officials describe as “high-quality developmen...
An average of at least 47 women and girls were killed each day during the war in Gaza, according to new figures released by UN Women.
A remarkable discovery at the ancient ruins of Sanxingdui offers a glimpse into what appears to be otherworldly craftsmanship - an axe believed to have been made using material from a meteorite.
China is seeking to strengthen and upgrade its cooperation with Turkmenistan, focusing on what officials describe as “high-quality development” across a range of sectors.
The Strait of Hormuz has reopened, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and U.S. President Donald Trump said on Friday (17 April), although Washington warned its naval blockade on Iran would remain until a peace deal is reached.
The past 24 hours of the Russia-Ukraine war have seen a drastic escalation in both aerial bombardment and frontline losses.
U.S. President Donald Trump and Iran’s Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, have said the Strait of Hormuz is now “completely open” to all commercial shipping for the remainder of the ceasefire period. Araghchi links the move to the ceasefire in Lebanon.
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Thursday that there was a "good chance" of a peace deal between Lebanon and Israel happening soon, after he announced a 10-day ceasefire between the two countries.
Russia published addresses of manufacturers allegedly producing drones or components for Ukraine on Wednesday (15 April), warning European countries against plans to step up UAV supplies to Kyiv.
U.S. President Donald Trump says Israeli and Lebanese leaders have agreed to a 10-day ceasefire that includes Hezbollah, raising cautious hopes of a pause in hostilities after weeks of escalating tensions.
Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa has said his country could provide a “safe corridor” and “alternative route” for regional energy shipments, as supply disruptions continue to affect the wider Middle East.
An average of at least 47 women and girls were killed each day during the war in Gaza, according to new figures released by UN Women.
China is seeking to strengthen and upgrade its cooperation with Turkmenistan, focusing on what officials describe as “high-quality development” across a range of sectors.
A low-profile diplomatic visit to Tbilisi may prove more consequential than it first appears, as representatives of France, Germany and Poland meet figures across Georgia’s political spectrum, signalling that Brussels is watching closely ahead of a key EU foreign ministers’ meeting.
Global leaders and diplomats have gathered in southern Türkiye for the fifth Antalya Diplomacy Forum, focusing on uncertainty, conflict and the future of global cooperation.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment