The trade volume between Afghanistan and Iran has reached $4 billion annually. The Iranian Consul General in Herat considers Afghanistan to be his country’s most important economic partner.
The Ministry of Industry and Commerce reports that minerals, raisins, lead, various beverages, and sesame are among Afghanistan’s main exports to Iran. In contrast, diesel, petrol, gas, raw materials for factories, and cement constitute Afghanistan’s primary imports from Iran.
Akhundzada Abdul Salam Jawad, the spokesperson for the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, reported that trade between Afghanistan and Iran in the first nine months of 2024 amounted to $2.194 billion. This figure includes $38 million in exports and $2.156 billion in imports.
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Strengthening Economic Ties
The Afghan Chamber of Commerce and Investment reports that Afghan merchants have increased their trade with Iran this year. This increase is due to recent trade challenges between Afghanistan and Pakistan. Additionally, Afghan merchants are trading with other countries through Iran.
Jan Agha Naveed, spokesperson for the Chamber of Commerce and Investment, said, “Afghanistan has expanded both its exports and imports through Iranian ports. Reports indicate that this year, Afghan merchants have conducted the majority of their trade via Iran.”
Additionally, some economic experts see the strengthening of trade relations with Iran and the use of Iran’s Chabahar Port for global transit as beneficial for both countries.
Mohammad Asif Stanikzai, an economic expert, said, “Our trade relations with Iran, including the use of Chabahar Port, indicate that the ties between the two countries will only strengthen further.”
Three days ago, Iran’s Special Envoy for Afghanistan announced that Tehran is working to attract Afghan entrepreneurs and private-sector investors. The goal is to encourage them to invest in large-scale projects in Iran by offering increased facilities. These efforts could further enhance the $4 billion trade volume.
This news is sourced from [Tolo News] and is for informational purposes only.
