Russia-Afghanistan Forum Discusses Logistics, Transit & Infrastructure Developments

The Russia-Afghanistan Business Forum has been held during the Russia-Islamic World Economic Forum in Kazan, with delegations from Russia, Afghanistan and related countries all attending.

Participants discussed the prospects for developing transport infrastructure in Afghanistan, as well as the creation of multimodal corridors linking Russia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, and Pakistan, and a second route connecting Russia, the Caspian Sea, Turkmenistan, and Afghanistan.

The importance of cooperation in road transport was emphasised, along with continued work on the Trans-Afghan Railway project.

Russia’s Deputy Transport Minister, Dmitry Zverev took part and discussed Afghan development issues with Afghanistan’s Acting Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs, Abdul Ghani Baradar. Zverev said that “The time has come for peaceful development in Afghanistan, for establishing good neighbourly relations and strengthening economic connectivity across Eurasia. In the context of an emerging multipolar world, there is a growing need to find new points of balance to build equitable international economic relations.”

Work on the Trans-Afghan Railway, which may become part of the North-South Transport Corridor, was highlighted. The line would connect Russia and other CIS countries with the Global South, and especially India and Pakistan, where upcoming global economic growth centres are now emerging.

A Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the Russian Ministry of Transport and the Afghan Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation. The document lays the groundwork for bilateral multimodal transport development and the establishment of broad cargo transit across a wide range of goods.

Participants emphasised the strong potential for growing trade between Russia and Afghanistan. In addition to energy and food exports, opportunities exist for delivering Russian industrial goods. Key cooperation areas include transport engineering, infrastructure development, mining, and energy, particularly the construction and modernisation of thermal power plants and small hydropower stations.