More than 80 Afghan companies and over 150 representatives from the business community participated in the event. The exhibition at the "Atakent-EXPO" complex in Almaty occupied an area of 1,024 square meters. Afghan enterprises showcased unique handmade carpets, dried fruits, nuts, confectionery, saffron tea, juices, and building materials.
Additionally, rare minerals and precious stones, for which Afghanistan is renowned, were on display at the exhibition. The wide selection of natural building materials, such as marble and onyx used in finishing, was equally intriguing.
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“Kazakhstan views Afghanistan as an important partner in South and Central Asia. Despite global volatility and geopolitical tensions, bilateral trade and economic cooperation between our countries continues to grow. We are not only promoting our products in the Afghan market but also facilitating the entry of Afghan goods into ours,” noted the Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Serik Zhumangarin.
In turn, welcoming the event participants, Afghanistan's Minister of Trade and Industry, Nooriddin Azizi, expressed gratitude to the Kazakh state authorities for the opportunity to introduce Afghan entrepreneurs' products to businessmen and residents of the metropolis. He expressed hope that the established contacts would lead to further collaboration and become the beginning of close cooperation in various fields.
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As highlighted by the director of the Kazakhstan Trade House in Afghanistan, Arman Yesentayev, events organized by the NPP "Atameken" play a significant role in developing economic relations between the two countries. This includes exchanges of trade delegations and participation in trade exhibitions. For instance, in September of this year, a delegation of Afghan businessmen visited Astana, Almaty, Kostanay, and Konayev. The result of their ten-day trip was contracts worth $30 million.
“We imported and stored 200 units of Afghan-made carpets, developed a brand block for this product, and intend to further expand our business in this direction,” said Arman Yesentayev.
The director of the trade house called on businessmen from both countries to actively participate in maintaining good-neighborly and business relations.
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While exploring the exhibition stands, I noticed that Afghan carpets attracted the most interest from visitors. Hearing the Kazakh language, I approached one of the stands displaying magnificent carpets of various designs and colors.
As it turned out, our compatriot from Turkey, Menes Ali, who has lived in Kazakhstan for 17 years, attended the exhibition for his commercial affairs. According to him, handmade carpets in Afghanistan are mainly produced in the Turkmenistan region, where a compact community of people from Central Asian countries resides. Today, over 5 million of them live on Afghan soil. Thanks to the skills of Central Asian carpet weavers, their products have gained worldwide recognition.
More than a century ago, Turkmen people, finding themselves on foreign soil, began to earn a living through their ancestral craft. Following their example, Kazakhs, Uzbeks, and Kyrgyz also took up this trade. Mostly, carpet weaving is carried out by women. Today, every Afghan home has a separate room dedicated to this craft. As before, wool threads are spun by hand, and, like 200 years ago, only natural dyes derived from various plants are used.
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Relatives of Menes Ali, living in Turkey, have been trading these carpets worldwide for many years. Over the decades, they have studied the tastes and preferences of buyers from different countries. Afghan carpets are well-known globally and represent not only material but also cultural value.
At "Atakent-EXPO," 12 talented women from Afghanistan showcased their handmade products created from natural materials.
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According to the director of the company and head of the Association of Women Entrepreneurs, Fereba Naseeri, their products are in high demand both in Afghanistan and beyond.
It is worth noting that trade and economic relations with Afghanistan are part of Kazakhstan's comprehensive policy aimed at strengthening economic integration, security, and international cooperation. The geographical proximity and business ties with this country open up new opportunities for developing transport routes, for example, to ensure our republic's access to the markets of South Asia and the Middle East.
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Let us remind you that on October 22, a Kazakhstan-Afghanistan business forum will be held in Almaty, during which participants will discuss new cooperation opportunities in B2B format meetings.