Afghanistan and Türkiye have agreed to establish a joint working group aimed at expanding bilateral trade and investment, the Islamic Emirate-run Ministry of Industry and Commerce announced on Thursday.

The agreement was reached during a meeting between Afghanistan’s Acting Minister of Industry and Commerce, Nooruddin Azizi, and Türkiye’s Trade Minister Omer Bolat on the sidelines of the 5th Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) Trade Ministers’ Summit.

According to the ministry’s statement, both sides acknowledged that although Afghanistan and Türkiye share significant trade potential, current trade levels remain far below expectations. They agreed that enhancing commercial ties should be a priority moving forward.

Azizi highlighted Afghanistan’s openness to increased Turkish investment, especially in energy, mining, and agriculture, sectors he described as vital to the country’s economic revival. He extended a formal invitation to Minister Bolat to visit Afghanistan and explore investment opportunities firsthand.

The statement also noted that Minister Bolat expressed interest in increasing Türkiye’s imports of Afghan products, including cotton, talc stone, and coal. Discussions also covered steps to improve transit and transportation routes to facilitate the smoother flow of Afghan goods into Turkish and global markets.

Both delegations agreed in principle to hold the first meeting of the newly formed joint working group soon, though an exact date has yet to be set.

Since the Islamic Emirate’s return to power in August 2021, Türkiye has maintained limited diplomatic engagement with Kabul, with cooperation largely centered on humanitarian assistance and economic coordination rather than political recognition.

The creation of a joint working group marks a noteworthy step in strengthening bilateral economic ties and may signal broader cooperation in the coming months. (ILKHA)