KABUL - Kazakhstan Ambassador Omirtay Bitimov on Wednesday asked the private sector of his country to invest in Afghanistan before losing the opportunities.

At a gathering in Kabul on “Kazakhstan-Afghanistan business-to-business match marketing” Bitimov said entrepreneurs from his country were ready to invest in Afghanistan’s different sectors.

“The private sector of Kazakhstan should not wait for stability in Afghanistan. While waiting for peace to be restored, Kazakh investors will be left with no opportunities in the presence of top investors from other countries,” he argued.

The diplomat asked Afghan traders to strengthen business relations with Kazakhstan, promising business opportunities would be provided to Afghans to invest in the neighboring country.

A cut in customs duty, establishment of industrial parks and other facilities would be made available to Afghan traders in his country.

The head of the Kazakh business delegation, Askar Arynov, said many of them were interested in investing in Afghanistan. He noted business links between the two countries were getting better.

Regarding trade between the two countries, the deputy minister of commerce and industries, Mozammil Shinwarai, said they imported flour, oil and gas from Kazakhstan and exported dry fruit to that country.

Afghanistan was trying to sign a trilateral transit agreement with Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan to enable the Afghan private sector to transfer goods there through trains, he said.

The deputy head of the Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Industries, Khan Jan Alokozai, said a joint chamber of commerce had been established for boosting relations between the two countries. (Pajhwok)