kabul: The Ministry of Industry and Commerce states that Afghanistan’s exports to Iran from the beginning of the current solar year until the 10th of Saratan (solar calendar) amounted to about $16 million, while imports were valued at $740 million.
Akhundzada Abdul Salam Jawad, the spokesperson for the ministry, added that both exports and imports between Afghanistan and Iran have increased this year compared to last year.
The spokesperson for the Ministry of Industry and Commerce specified: “Afghanistan’s exports to Iran from the 1st of Hamal (solar calendar) to the 10th of Saratan in 1403 (solar year) amounted to about $16 million, and imports from the country during this period were $740 million.”
Meanwhile, Iranian media reported a $123 million increase in non-oil exports to Afghanistan in the first three months of the current solar year.
The First Deputy of the Afghanistan Chamber of Industries and Mines emphasizes increasing tariffs on goods produced in Afghanistan and states that more efforts should be made to market the country’s products in other countries’ markets.
Sakhi Ahmad Paiman, the First Deputy of the Afghanistan Chamber of Industries and Mines, said: “We can regulate our exports so that at least our exports increase, and alongside this, the production of goods in Afghanistan should increase, and tariffs on imported items should be raised so that domestic goods replace imported goods.”
Several experts consider Iran an important economic and trade partner for Afghanistan and believe that increasing trade and transit relations with this country benefits Afghanistan’s economy.
Abdul Zahoor Madaber, an economic affairs expert, said: “One of the advantages Iran has for Afghanistan is its shorter distance and longer border. Having proper economic and strategic relations with Iran also provides an opportunity to utilize the Chabahar port.”
According to reports, Afghanistan is recognized as an excellent market for Iranian products, and traders from both countries are working to increase the volume of trade, especially the export of Iranian goods to Afghanistan.
