Kazakhstan has formally approved the establishment of a United Nations Regional Center for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for Central Asia and Afghanistan in Almaty, after President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev signed a ratification law on June 17.

The legislation ratifies a memorandum of understanding between the Kazakh government and the United Nations on the creation of the center, paving the way for the launch of the first UN regional SDG center of its kind.

According to Kazakhstan’s presidential press service, the center will serve as a platform for promoting sustainable development, regional cooperation, and the implementation of the UN’s development agenda across Central Asia and Afghanistan.

The initiative builds on a host country agreement signed by Tokayev and UN Secretary-General António Guterres in August 2025, underscoring Kazakhstan’s growing role in regional and international diplomacy.

Presenting the bill to the Senate on June 11, Senator Bibigul Zheksenbai described the center as strategically important for Kazakhstan, saying its location in Almaty would strengthen the city’s status as an international diplomatic and business hub.

She noted that the project would also expand opportunities for promoting Kazakhstan’s priorities within UN institutions, increase the participation of Kazakh professionals in international organizations, and contribute to the development of their expertise.

Under the memorandum, Kazakhstan has committed to providing a voluntary contribution of $3 million annually from 2025 through 2029. The funding will be used to equip the center with modern technology, communications systems, and IT infrastructure, as well as to cover operational expenses.

The establishment of the center is expected to enhance regional cooperation on sustainable development issues while supporting international efforts aimed at fostering economic growth, stability, and development in Central Asia and Afghanistan.

Afghanistan’s Ministry of Mines and Petroleum has signed a contract for the development of the Aibak Cement Project in Feroz Nakhchir district of Samangan province, marking a significant investment in the country’s industrial sector.

The agreement, valued at $67 million, was signed on Thursday between Hedayatullah Badri, Minister of Mines and Petroleum, and Aibak Cement Company, according to a statement issued by the ministry.

Under the terms of the contract, the company will pay a royalty of 200 Afghanis to the government for every ton of cement produced. The project has been awarded for a period of 30 years, subject to the company’s compliance with Afghanistan’s mining laws, regulations and contractual obligations.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Badri said the project is expected to create employment opportunities for around 600 Afghans and contribute to the country’s economic development.

He added that the company has committed to investing approximately $1 million in social development initiatives during the contract period.

The Ministry of Mines and Petroleum said the plant will have a production capacity of 1,200 tons of cement per day.

The project is part of broader efforts to attract investment into Afghanistan’s mining and industrial industries and expand local production capacity.

Zabihullah Mujahid, spokesman for the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA), has responded to the European Union’s renewed call for an inclusive political process, saying Afghanistan has achieved peace and stability and is now focused on economic development.

Speaking on the issue, Mujahid said the Afghan people have emerged from decades of war and instability, adding that the country’s security forces are capable of maintaining order and safeguarding national stability.

“Peace and stability exist in Afghanistan. The people have been rescued from war, misery, disputes and conflict. We have strong security forces capable of maintaining stability, and now the priority is to ensure Afghanistan’s economy stands on its own and achieves significant growth,” he said.

Mujahid also called on the international community to expand engagement with Afghanistan rather than express concerns about the country’s situation.

“We want other countries not to be worried about Afghanistan, but to discuss and strengthen their relations and overall engagement with the country,” he added.

His remarks came after the European Union, speaking at the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva, once again emphasized the need for an inclusive political process in Afghanistan, arguing that such a framework could contribute to long-term peace and stability.

The EU also called for unhindered humanitarian access throughout Afghanistan and stressed the importance of ensuring women’s participation in the delivery of humanitarian assistance.

The Islamic Emirate has consistently maintained that the issue of forming an inclusive government is an internal Afghan matter and has described foreign comments on the subject as interference in the country’s domestic affairs.

The debate over political inclusion remains one of the key issues raised by the international community in its engagement with Afghanistan since the Islamic Emirate returned to power in August 2021.