Kazakhstan is considering using an alternative route through Turkmenistan to increase exports to Afghanistan.
The proposal was made by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Trade and Integration Serik Zhumangarin at a meeting with Afghan Minister of Trade and Industry Haji Nooruddin Azizi, Kazakhstan's government website reports.
"To increase exports of our goods to Afghanistan, we are working on an alternative and more profitable route through Turkmenistan," Zhumangarin said.
According to him, Kazakhstan's railroad company has worked out the issue of providing additional discounts of 10% to the already available 30% discounts on the transit tariff through Turkmenistan through the Turkmen-Afghan crossing of Turgundi.
Under previous agreements, the two countries intend to increase the volume of total trade turnover from $1bn to $3bn.
Kazakhstan supplies flour, wheat, metal, mineral fertilisers and sunflower oil to Afghanistan via Uzbekistan and Tajikistan.
To boost co-operation, the Afghan side was asked to open a trade mission in Kazakhstan and use the potential of the Kazakhstani trading house in Herat, Afghanistan.
Credits: Eziz Boyarov
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