Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs of the Islamic Emirate Afghanistan (IEA), met with Artyom Alekseyevich Zdunov, Head of the Republic of Mordovia, on the sidelines of the 16th Kazan International Economic Forum to discuss expanding bilateral economic and trade relations.

During the meeting, Deputy PM Mullah Baradar described the Kazan Forum as a valuable platform for fostering cooperation between Afghanistan and Mordovia in key sectors such as agriculture, trade, and energy. He highlighted Afghanistan’s vast investment opportunities and welcomed foreign investors to explore sectors ranging from mining and agriculture to manufacturing.

He emphasized that Afghanistan produces a variety of high-quality goods, including fresh and dried fruits, traditional Afghan rugs, precious stones, marble, and other minerals, and expressed readiness to export these products to Mordovia. He also voiced Afghanistan’s interest in importing goods from Mordovia, including electrical equipment, industrial machinery, petroleum products, natural gas, and transport-related tools, based on domestic needs.

Mullah Baradar extended a formal invitation to Mordovian investors to invest in Afghanistan’s key economic sectors, promising full cooperation and support from the Islamic Emirate.

In response, Mordovian Head Artyom Zdunov welcomed the initiative and expressed strong interest in engaging with Afghanistan’s market. He pointed out that Mordovia has made substantial progress in medicine, agriculture, energy, and pharmaceutical production, and is ready to collaborate with Afghanistan in these areas.

Zdunov also noted Mordovia’s plans to begin exporting agricultural products to Afghanistan through the corridor connecting Mordovia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Afghanistan. He affirmed the interest of Mordovian investors in working with their Afghan counterparts.

IEA’s Acting Minister of Industry and Commerce, Nooruddin Azizi, who was also present at the meeting, reiterated Afghanistan’s readiness to start large-scale trade in food, agricultural products, and industrial goods. He announced that leading Afghan companies would soon be introduced to Mordovian partners to facilitate joint ventures and cooperation.

The meeting marked a significant step toward establishing structured economic ties between Afghanistan and the Republic of Mordovia, opening new channels for trade and investment between the two regions.

President of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov during a meeting with Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs of Afghanistan, on the sidelines of the 16th Kazan International Economic Forum under the theme “Russia and the Islamic World,” said that a delegation from Tatarstan will be sent to Kabul to strengthen relations with Afghanistan in various sectors.

According to the Deputy Prime Minister’s Office for Economic Affairs, Minnikhanov added that while trade with Afghanistan is already taking place in some areas, they are now ready to expand the scope of these exchanges.

During the meeting, the Director General of the KAMAZ automobile manufacturing company expressed that Tatarstan is prepared to increase exports of KAMAZ freight trucks and fire trucks to Afghanistan. He also mentioned that a special subsidy for Afghanistan would be secured through President Minnikhanov in support of this initiative.

He added that he intends to visit Afghanistan to assess the market, and following that, practical steps will be taken in this regard.

During the meeting, the Minister of Agriculture and Food of Tatarstan also stated that they are prepared to increase exports of halal food products to Afghanistan from now on.

Both sides discussed bilateral economic and trade relations, as well as potential investments by Tatarstani investors in Afghanistan.

At the meeting, Abdul Ghani Baradar expressed his gratitude to the President of Tatarstan for inviting the Islamic Emirate’s delegation to the 16th Kazan International Economic Forum.

Baradar described the invitation as an opportunity to strengthen bilateral political and economic relations between Afghanistan and other countries.

He added that the foreign policy of the Islamic Emirate is independent, positive, neutral, balanced, and economy-focused, and that Afghanistan seeks good relations with all countries of the world.

He emphasized that, in line with this policy, IEA aims to expand its relations with the Republic of Tatarstan in various sectors, particularly in investment in Afghanistan, energy, infrastructure, and the enhancement of bilateral trade.

He described Afghanistan’s current conditions as favorable for investment and called on Tatarstani investors to invest in sectors such as oil and gas extraction and refining, construction projects, railways, and other areas in Afghanistan.

Baradar described the 16th Kazan International Economic Forum as a valuable opportunity to strengthen economic and trade relations between Afghanistan and Tatarstan. He stressed the need to organize exhibitions and other economic programs between the two sides to fully utilize the available potential in these areas.

Baradar extended a formal invitation to the President of Tatarstan to visit Afghanistan in order to further develop bilateral relations.

Acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi and Murat Nurtleu, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Kazakhstan, discussed the need to strengthen bilateral ties during a phone call on Thursday, Afghanistan’s foreign ministry said in a statement.

Hafiz Zia Ahmad Takal, the head of public relations at Foreign Ministry, said that the two sides also discussed strengthening bilateral relations, expanding trade and transit, and enhancing the level of diplomatic ties between the two countries.

Muttaqi described Kazakhstan as one of the key countries in Central Asia and expressed hope that both nations would continue working together for the development and prosperity of the region by utilizing the existing potential.

He emphasized the importance of Afghanistan’s relations with Kazakhstan and reaffirmed his commitment to expanding cooperation in various sectors.

The Kazakh Foreign Minister also called for increased engagement at the level of foreign ministries. He further announced that he would pay an official visit to Kabul in the near future.

Nurtleu stated that his country is ready to invest $500 million in the construction of the Torghundi–Herat railway project in Afghanistan.