KABUL (SW) – Nooruddin Azizi, Acting Minister of Commerce and Industry of Afghanistan, emphasized the expansion and strengthening of trade relations with Kyrgyzstan during a meeting with Daniyar Aman Guldif, Minister of Economy and Trade of Kyrgyzstan. Azizi also requested Kyrgyzstan to reduce the transit fare for Afghan commercial goods, aiming to decrease the expenses incurred when transferring goods to China through Kyrgyzstan.
During the meeting which held on Thursday, the two sides agreed to increase trade and create a joint Afghanistan-Kyrgyz Chamber of Commerce, said Akhundzada Abdul Salam Javad, the spokesperson for the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
“In the meetings held, various topics were discussed, including strategies for marketing Afghanistan’s industries and mines,” he added.
On the other hand, Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs Amir Khan Mutaqi, in a meeting with Daniyar Aman Guldif, said that Afghanistan is ready to start the practical work of the “CASA-1000” project.
Zia Ahmad Takal, the deputy spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, says that Amir Khan Mutaqi asked Kyrgyzstan to increase the necessary facilities for Afghan businessmen who transfer their goods to China through Kyrgyzstan.
He adds: “Mr. Guldif said that after the recent positive changes in Afghanistan, there have been opportunities for joint work in many fields. The Minister of Foreign Affairs called for facilitating the issuance of visas for Afghan businessmen to develop business.”
The Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Investment also says that the expansion of trade relations between Afghanistan and Kyrgyzstan, and the facilitation for Afghan businessmen by Kyrgyzstan is beneficial to Afghanistan’s trade.
Khairuddin Mayel, the deputy of the chamber, says: “From now on, traders can deliver the imported goods from China and Kyrgyzstan to Afghanistan. We hope that the goods will reach Afghanistan in the shortest time and with ease.”
Recently, Afghanistan is trying to increase its trade relations with Iran, Central Asian countries and China, to reduce its dependence on trade through Pakistan.
According to the statistics of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Afghanistan’s trade with Central Asian countries reaches one billion dollars per year.
