Kazakhstan, Astana, 14 March / Trend D. Mukhtarov /
There are many problems that today impede trade relations between Kazakhstan and Afghanistan, director of Kazindustriya LLP, expert from the Center for Modern Afghan Studies Mohammad Daud said on Thursday.
"The first problem lies in the lack of information about each other. Afghan businessmen are interested in the delivery of foodstuffs, building materials and petroleum products, but they are ill informed about it," Daud said, speaking at the Afghan-Kazakh business forum.
According to him, the second one is visa problems for entrepreneurs."Afghan businessmen willing to work in Kazakhstan can't enter the country," he said.
The third problem, he said, is related to transit obstacles.
"Transit through neighboring states is quite complicated. Uzbekistan announced a convention ban; afterwards, a number of products couldn't pass. Also, the infrastructure at our receiving station is very poor. It doesn't get to accept the incoming cargo in time," he explained.
He also reminded that Afghanistan has its own railway.
"Afghanistan should take the initiative and try to join the Organization for Cooperation of Railways of the CIS. Kazakhstan may support Afghanistan in this issue to speed up its accession to the organization. In that case, the transit problem will be completely solved. And it will be possible to accept goods independently. Currently, there is no such possibility, therefore, the decision on all goods transferred to Afghanistan is made by Uzbekistan," Daud said.