Inauguration of the First Afghanistan-Russia Trade Forum in Kazan
Russia-The first “Afghanistan-Russia Trade Forum” was officially launched in the city of Kazan, with the participation of senior economic officials and private sector representatives from both countries.The event aims to strengthen economic, trade, customs, and transit cooperation between Kabul and Moscow, and is seen as a milestone in bilateral economic relations.
Weezharoz-In the opening speech, Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, emphasized that political stability has been established in Afghanistan, paving the way for both domestic and foreign investment.
He noted that large-scale infrastructure projects in sectors such as electricity, mining, transport, and exports are currently underway.
He further stated that Afghanistan is eager to expand exports and trade with Russia and other regional countries, including Central Asia.
Alexey Overchuk, Deputy Prime Minister of Russia, expressed Moscow’s willingness to deepen economic ties with Afghanistan.
He confirmed that Russian companies are prepared to invest and operate in the following sectors:
-Mining and resource extraction
-Construction of hydroelectric power plants
-Expansion of railway networks and transportation infrastructure
-Production of vehicles and machinery
-Enhancing regional transit through strategic corridors
During the forum, Russian customs officials announced plans to offer special concessions and customs relief for Afghan agricultural imports.
A proposal was also made to establish a joint trade protocol aimed at reducing bureaucratic barriers, streamlining export procedures, and simplifying transit between the two nations.
Afghanistan announced its readiness to begin construction of the Second Salang Tunnel to improve transit connectivity with Russia.
The strategic importance of Afghanistan in the North–South Corridor and the Afghan-Trans project was also highlighted, with Russia expressing strong interest in expanding cargo transit through Afghan territory.
As part of the forum, vehicle manufacturers from Tatarstan expressed their willingness to invest in the Afghan market.
A bilateral agreement was signed to establish a joint trade center between Kabul and Moscow.
Direct commercial contracts between Afghan and Russian traders are also expected to be signed on the sidelines of the event.
Summary and Outlook The launch of this forum marks a significant step toward deepening Afghanistan-Russia economic relations.
Both sides stressed the need for balanced development, regulatory transparency, infrastructure investment, and investor support.
Given Afghanistan’s transit potential and Russia’s interest in expanding its economic footprint in the region, such cooperation could lead to increased bilateral trade, export growth, and new foreign investments.
Weezharoz
