Afghanistan’s lithium sector open for investment, says Azizi

KABUL (Khaama Press): In an interview with Reuters, Nooruddin Azizi, the current Acting Minister of Commerce and Industry, emphasized that the vast potential of Afghanistan’s lithium sector presents a unique and open opportunity for countries worldwide to engage in strategic investments.

Azizi highlighted that the country’s lithium resources are available for exploration and development, inviting all nations to participate in harnessing this valuable resource.
Last week, a business delegation led by Nooruddin Azizi, the acting Minister of Commerce and Industry, visited Kazakhstan.

Azizi also elaborated on his recent visit to Kazakhstan, highlighting the focus on enhancing international financial transactions with private banks during the delegation’s visit.

The goal was to address the challenges faced by the Afghan banking sector and mitigate its isolation from the global financial network.

“Every country can invest in Afghanistan’s lithium sector because the hope of the people of Afghanistan is lithium, and I do not want lithium to be wasted by a company, a country, a person or a hundred people,” Azizi told Reuters.

Furthermore, he explored the potential for preferential trade tariffs, telecommunications initiatives, and transit routes alongside banking matters. These discussions also encompassed the potential transportation of Russian oil to South Asia, as reported by Reuters.

“We had teams from Afghanistan’s Central Bank, also known as Da Afghanistan and private banks in Kazakhstan; they discussed and are trying to find good ways to decrease the price of financial transactions … we do not have any banking limitations with Kazakhstan,” he said.

However, Reuters also said that Kazakhstan’s trade ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Economists have emphasized that Afghanistan’s lithium mines’ significance and strategic value cannot be underestimated.

According to the Ministry of Mines and Petroleum, there is a notable surge in international attention towards Afghanistan’s lithium mines, with several countries, including China, displaying a keen interest in making substantial investments amounting to $10 billion.

This significant financial commitment underscores the growing recognition of Afghanistan’s potential as a critical player in the global lithium market.