Afghanistan’s private sector and businesses from Kyrgyzstan have signed trade agreements worth $156 million, according to the Taliban’s Ministry of Industry and Commerce.
In a statement, the ministry said the memorandums of understanding were signed on Wednesday (December 17) during the Afghanistan – Kyrgyzstan Trade Connectivity Conference.
Nuruddin Azizi, the Taliban’s acting minister of industry and commerce, said the conference was organized to identify opportunities and challenges and to take what he described as practical steps to expand cooperation.
He added that both countries hold strategic economic positions, with Afghanistan serving as a link between South and West Asia, while Kyrgyzstan acts as a gateway to Central Asia and the Eurasian Economic Union.
Bakyt Sydykov, Kyrgyzstan’s minister of economy and commerce, also highlighted the strategic importance of the two countries, stressing the need for joint investment, transit routes and bilateral trade.
The Kyrgyz minister arrived in Kabul on Tuesday at the head of a high-level delegation and held talks with official of the Taliban.
During the visit, the Kyrgyzstan Trade House was inaugurated in Kabul and a trade connectivity conference between the two countries was held.
The Taliban’s Ministry of Industry and Commerce said private sector representatives from both sides held discussions in sectors including gold, pharmaceuticals, footwear, telecommunications, mining and energy, logistics, transport, agriculture, construction and banking.
The ministry added that investment opportunities in both countries were also presented to members of the private sector.
