2. Potential and opportunities of Central Asia Region,
Afghanistan and Pakistan
• Large market totaling 320 million population
– Central Asia - 100 million; Afghanistan - 30 million;
Pakistan - 190 million
• CAR offers cotton, energy, wheat, steel and iron, silk,
fruits, hides, mineral fuel
• South Asia offers pharmaceutical products, fruits,
vegetables, clothe, footwear, rice, sugar, citrus
• Trade complementarity
• Through Central Asia further access to Eastern
Europe
3. Investment opportunities of Central Asian Region
• Diversification of capital in other countries
• Possibility of transfer of certain part of production
facility to other country
• Opening enterprises in other countries in order to
reduce expenses in production value chain or
transportation/logistics
• Secure residence in other countries after making
investments
• Access to market in Russia and Eastern Europe
• Free economic zones in CAR
4. Trade experience of Central Asian Region with
Afghanistan before 1990
High quality and strong demand for goods from
former Soviet Union:
• Non-alloy steel and steel products
• Construction materials
• Oil products
• Household articles
• Cooking oil
• Canned goods
• Foodstuffs
5. Potential and opportunities of Afghan market
• Population: 31 million
• Production: lack of production in large scale
• Production cost: high
• Past experience of trade relationship: positive
• Transportation cost: relatively low
• Security of business running: relatively positive
• Infrastructure in the Northern Region: established
• Economic and business center: Mazar-e-sharif
6. Afghanistan and Kazakhstan
Export
• Marble and onyx (potential)
• Carpet, rugs (potential)
• Fresh fruits (potential): apples,
pomegranates, grapes, apricots
• Vegetables: potatoes, onions
(during the off season)
• Dried fruits and nuts
• Precious and semi-precious
stones (potential)
Import
• Wheat and flour
• Metal bar
• Oil products
• Vegetable oil (potential)
7. Afghanistan and Kyrgyzstan
Export
• Re-export of dried fruits and
fresh fruits (potential)
• Precious and semi-precious
stones for cutting and polishing
and further export to other
countries (potential)
• Karakul for making coats,
access to market in Kazakhstan
and Russia (potential)
• Vegetables: potatoes, onions
(during the off season)
Import
• Red kidney beans
• Canned products: jams,
pickled vegetables (potential)
• Juices and non-alcoholic
beverages (potential)
• Powdered milk (potential)
• Meat products (potential)
• Textile products: t-shirts,
jeans, women’s robes
(potential)
8. Afghanistan and Uzbekistan
Export
• Juice concentrate
• Dried fruits (potential) for
processing in Uzbekistan and
further re-export to other
countries. Uzbekistan has well-
developed processing
facilities, which meet
international standards.
• Vegetables: onions and
potatoes (during off season)
Import
• Beverages: juices, mineral
water, other beverages
• Pharmaceutical products
• Textile products
(potential)
• Mineral fertilizers
• Foodstuff
• Construction material
(potential)
• Canned products
(potential)
9. Afghanistan and Tajikistan
Export
• Re-export of dried fruits
and fresh fruits
(potential)
• Juice concentrate
(potential)
• Vegetables: potatoes
and onions (during off
season)
Import
• Dairy products (potential)
• Canned agriculture products:
jams, pickled vegetables
(potential)
• Juices and non-alcoholic
beverages (potential)
• Textile products (potential): t-
shirts, jeans, women’s robes
• Construction materials
(potential)
• Electrical cables (potential)
10. Afghanistan and Turkmenistan
Export
• Marble and onyx (white city
Ashgabat)
• Juice
• Fresh fruits: apples,
pomegranates, grapes,
apricots (potential)
• Dried fruits and nuts
(potential) : raisins, apricots,
mulberry, almonds, walnuts
• Vegetables: onions and
potatoes (during off season)
Import
• Construction material
(potential)
• Textile products (potential)
11. Investment opportunities of Pakistan
• Semi-industrialized economy: textiles, chemicals,
food processing, agriculture and other industries
• Developed textile and pharmaceutical sectors
• Experience in production of certified products
• 95% of total freight trade – seaborne: major seaports
are Karachi, Muhammad Bin Qasim, and Gwadar
15. Pakistan and Tajikistan
Export
• Sugar
• Rice
• Pharmaceutical products
• Vegetables: potato and
onion
• Textile products: clothing
and fabrics
• Citrus
Import
• Cotton and cotton yarn
• Dried fruits and nuts
• Canned and processed fruits
and vegetables
• Hides
16. Pakistan and Turkmenistan
Export
• Sugar
• Rice
• Pharmaceutical products
• Citrus
• Vegetables: potato and
onion
Import
• Cotton and cotton yarn
17. Potential joint ventures
• Marble processing facilities
• Fruits processing facilities
• Construction material facilities
• Flour mill in Tajikistan
• Milk powder in Kyrgyzstan
• Precious and semi-precious stones facilities
• Wholesale market at border in Uzbekistan
18. Existing obstacles and barriers
• Security
• Transport/transit
• Visa procedure
• Direct flight/connection
• Corruption
• Other barriers
19. Recommendations
• Organizing exhibitions of goods and
services
• Simplify visa issuance with support
of Chambers
• Open a trade house or exhibition hall
• Hold regular business to business
meetings (b2b)
• Facilitate close coordination with
Chamber of Commerce in each
country
