Kazakhstan and Afghanistan to Establish Technical Committee for Geological Exploration
Astana, The Gulf Observer: In a concerted effort to harness the untapped potential of Afghanistan’s rich mineral resources, Deputy Prime Minister of Kazakhstan, Serik Zhumangarin, and Afghanistan’s Minister of Mines and Petroleum, Shahabuddin Delawar, convened a pivotal meeting to deliberate on avenues for collaboration in the domain of geological exploration and mining. The deliberations, facilitated by representatives from domestic entities ERG Exploration and Kazakhmys Barlau, underscored the shared commitment towards fostering mutually beneficial partnerships, as reported by the prime minister’s press-service.
The vast expanse of Afghanistan’s terrain harbors immense prospects for mineral exploration, boasting reserves encompassing oil, gas, coal, ores, and rare earth metals. Conversely, Kazakhstan stands as a stalwart in the realm of mineral resources, endowed with substantial reserves and a robustly developed oil, gas, and mining industry sector.
Central to the discussions was the consensus to establish a specialized technical committee comprising experts from both nations, entrusted with the pivotal task of identifying prospective joint ventures and facilitating their seamless realization. At the nascent stage, Afghanistan intends to furnish Kazakhstan with comprehensive maps delineating promising deposits, supplemented by the findings of pertinent research endeavors.
The collaborative initiative signals a paradigm shift towards leveraging synergies between the two nations, capitalizing on their respective strengths to propel sustainable growth and economic development. Moreover, it underscores Kazakhstan’s unwavering commitment to fostering regional cooperation and nurturing strategic partnerships for mutual prosperity.
Highlighting Kazakhstan’s burgeoning private investment landscape in geological exploration, particularly in solid minerals, the deliberations underscored a notable surge in private sector engagement over the past five years. From a marked increase in investment figures, surging from 33.9 billion tenge in 2018 to 82 billion tenge in 2023, it is evident that the sector has emerged as a focal point of interest, symbolizing the growing confidence in Kazakhstan’s mineral-rich potential.
As Kazakhstan and Afghanistan embark on this collaborative venture, fueled by shared aspirations for socioeconomic advancement, the strategic partnership holds the promise of unlocking new frontiers of growth, fostering regional stability, and paving the way for a brighter, more prosperous future for both nations.
