The first Afghanistan–Kyrgyzstan Private Sector Business Forum was held in Bishkek, the capital of the Kyrgyz Republic, through the cooperation of the chambers of commerce of both countries. The forum was attended by the presidents and deputy presidents of the chambers of commerce, the Deputy Minister of Economy and Commerce of the Kyrgyz Republic, the Ambassador of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, government officials, business leaders, and investors.
At the opening ceremony, Mr. Temir Sariev, President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Kyrgyz Republic, welcomed the Afghan business delegation led by Mr. Sayed Karim Hashemi, Chairman of the Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Investment (ACCI). Referring to the historical and cultural ties between the two countries, he noted that bilateral trade had reached approximately US$50 million in recent years. While this represents steady growth, he emphasized that the current trade volume remains below its full potential and requires greater efforts from both sides. He also highlighted Afghanistan’s strategic role as a regional transit hub and underscored the potential for cooperation in the agriculture, construction, and fresh and dried fruits sectors.
Mr. Sayed Karim Hashemi described the forum as an important step toward strengthening economic and trade cooperation and expressed his appreciation to the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic for its warm hospitality. He emphasized that Afghanistan and Kyrgyzstan possess extensive opportunities for economic and commercial collaboration, noting that stronger bilateral relations would benefit both countries while contributing to enhanced regional cooperation.
The Chairman of ACCI proposed five key areas of cooperation: increasing exchanges of trade and investment delegations, organizing joint exhibitions and business forums, facilitating transit and transportation, encouraging joint investments, and establishing a regular mechanism to address the challenges faced by the private sector.
Mawlawi Abdul Shakoor Haqqani, Ambassador of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan to the Kyrgyz Republic, also emphasized the importance of expanding economic cooperation and strengthening ties between the chambers of commerce. He reaffirmed the Embassy’s commitment to supporting private sector initiatives.
During the second session of the forum, an agreement was signed to establish the Afghanistan–Kyrgyzstan Joint Chamber of Commerce to expand bilateral trade, promote joint investment, and reduce trade barriers.
At the conclusion of the forum, several memorandums of understanding and commercial agreements with a combined value exceeding US$350 million were signed. The largest agreement, valued at US$300 million was concluded between Khawafi Holding Group of Afghanistan and Terek Tash of Kyrgyzstan for the establishment of a cement manufacturing plant. This landmark agreement represents a significant step toward expanding joint investment and industrial cooperation between the two countries.
The forum demonstrated the strong commitment of Afghanistan and Kyrgyzstan to enhancing bilateral economic and trade relations and creating new opportunities for future cooperation and investment.
Date: Sunday, June 28, 2026
