Kazakhstan and Afghanistan Agree to Establish a Technical Group for Analyzing Afghan Mineral Resources
Striking Partnership: Kazakhstan and Afghanistan are forging ahead with a strategic alliance in the realms of mineral exploration and trade. Here's a closer look at the latest developments:
In a recent meeting, Kazakh Deputy Prime Minister Serik Zhumangarin and Afghanistan's Minister of Mines and Petroleum Hidayatullah Badri discussed the formation of a technical commission to examine Afghan mineral deposits. The commission is set to investigate potential deposits of solid minerals in various provinces of Afghanistan.
Zhumangarin expressed gratitude for the Afghan side's support and noted that Kazakhstan boasts a skilled pool of mining companies with extensive experience in geological exploration, production, and processing of solid minerals. These companies are eager to capitalize on potential deposits discovered in Afghanistan.
Following this discussion, a team of Kazakh specialists will visit Afghanistan again in late May to explore additional mining opportunities. The Afghan side has agreed to provide information on confirmed reserves of natural resources that interest Kazakh mining companies, upon request.
During the same visit, Zhumangarin met with Ahmad Jan Bilal, the head of Afghanistan's main directorate for state-owned companies, to talk about potential expansion of cooperation between Kazakh enterprises and Afghan state-owned companies.
Blossoming Business:Zhumangarin also participated in the opening of a Kazakh-Afghan business forum, where 50 Kazakh companies showcased a diverse range of goods, including traditional vegetable oil, pasta, rice, agrodrones, and batteries.
Zhumangarin emphasized that Afghanistan could become a significant logistics hub between Central and South Asia, with Kazakhstan serving as a steady supplier of food, technology, engineering, chemical, and IT products. The goal is to boost the volume of trade to $3 billion in the short term by establishing sustainable supply channels, expanding the range of mutual trade, and creating favorable conditions for investment and entrepreneurial activity.
Preliminary results from the first day of the business forum showed nearly $140 million worth of commercial documents being signed.
On the mineral exploration front, Kazakh geologists have collected over 130 kg of ore samples from Afghanistan’s Nuristan Province, which may contain lead, zinc, and beryllium. In the near future, these samples will undergo laboratory analysis in Kazakhstan to determine their commercial viability.
The strategic partnership between Kazakhstan and Afghanistan involves more than just mineral exploration. Both nations are also targeting increased trade, with a roadmap outlining a goal to raise trade turnover to $3 billion by late 2024. Discussions have focused on leveraging Kazakhstan’s mining expertise for joint projects in exploration, extraction, and processing.
To further strengthen ties, Kazakhstan has proposed collaborating on optical cable installation along the Torghundi-Herat railway for enhanced telecommunications. Additionally, talks with Afghanistan’s state-owned companies aim to expand joint ventures in resource development.
A technical commission has been established to facilitate this strategic partnership, with elements such as streamlined access to geological data for Kazakh investors and laboratory analysis of ore samples paving the way for future success.
- The technical commission, established to investigate potential solid mineral deposits in various Afghan provinces, will be presented to the Afghan side by Deputy Prime Minister of Kazakhstan, Serik Zhumangarin, during his upcoming visit in late May.
- In addition to the mineral exploration partnership, Kazakhstan'sMinister of Mining, Zhumangarin, has also confirmed that sports could be another potential area of collaboration, as he expressed interest in boosting cultural exchange between the two countries.
- Amid the economic cooperation, Afghanistan's Minister of Mines and Petroleum, Hidayatullah Badri, has confirmed reserves of natural resources that have attracted Kazakh mining companies, allowing for more extensive exploration and possible extraction in the future.
