Afghanistan and Iran are seeking to increase bilateral trade to $10 billion while working to ease transit barriers for Afghan exports through Iran.
Afghanistan’s Minister of Industry and Commerce, Nooruddin Azizi, met with Iran’s Minister of Agriculture, Gholamreza Nouri Ghezeljeh, in Kabul to discuss expanding cooperation in trade, investment, agriculture, and transit.
The talks focused on facilitating Afghan exports through Iran, including carpets and agricultural products. The two sides discussed reducing transit delays and transportation costs, signing a quarantine agreement, expanding the use of Chabahar Port, and providing refrigerated containers for perishable Afghan products.
Iran also expressed readiness to expand agricultural cooperation and pursue joint investment in Afghanistan’s agricultural sector.
Azizi said increasing bilateral trade to $10 billion could open a new chapter in economic relations, provided existing trade and transit barriers are removed. He also called for more balanced trade relations between the two neighboring countries.
The discussions come as Afghanistan seeks to expand regional trade routes and reduce logistical barriers facing its exporters.
