Kyrgyzstan and Afghanistan have taken a significant step toward deepening economic ties with the opening of the Trade House of the Kyrgyz Republic in Kabul on December 16.
The launch ceremony was attended by Kyrgyz Minister of Economy and Commerce Bakyt Sydykov and Afghan Minister of Industry and Commerce Nooruddin Azizi.
According to the Kyrgyz Ministry of Economy and Commerce, the new Trade House is intended to serve as a platform for promoting Kyrgyz exports, facilitating direct business connections between entrepreneurs from both countries, and expanding bilateral trade.
The Kyrgyz delegation also participated in a Kyrgyz-Afghan business conference on December 17 in Kabul, organized by the Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Investment. Speaking at the event, Azizi announced Afghanistan’s intention to open its own Trade House in Bishkek, describing Afghanistan and Kyrgyzstan as “interconnected countries” with complementary positions in regional trade. He characterized Kyrgyzstan as a gateway to Central Asia and the Eurasian Economic Union, and Afghanistan as a strategic hub linking South and West Asia.
The conference concluded with the signing of commercial contracts worth $157 million between Kyrgyz and Afghan companies.
Bilateral trade has gained momentum since Kyrgyzstan removed the Taliban from its list of prohibited organizations in September 2024. At the time, the Kyrgyz Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that the decision was intended to support regional stability and constructive dialogue.
According to Afghanistan’s Ministry of Industry and Commerce, bilateral trade reached $66 million in the most recent solar year (March 2024-March 2025), with Afghan exports totaling $7 million. Key Afghan exports to Kyrgyzstan include aluminum and copper utensils, pressure cookers, carpets, fruits, and vegetables. Kyrgyzstan is a significant supplier of petroleum products to the Afghan market.
In a further move to strengthen its regional trade presence, Kyrgyzstan secured a pavilion at the Termez International Trade Center in November 2024. Located in Termez, Uzbekistan, near the Afghan border, the Center serves as a key node in regional trade routes, particularly between Uzbekistan and Afghanistan. The Kyrgyz pavilion offers a strategic foothold to further expand access to the Afghan market.
