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AT News Report-KABUL: Afghan traders have inked $20.5 million contracts in high-value agriculture products with foreign traders at the Gulf Food Exhibition held in February in Dubai.
At least 25 Afghan traders took part in the exhibition and signed various contracts with foreign traders in agricultural products. Domestic productions and exports to potential markets could ultimately boost up the country’s economic sector.
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) in a statement said Afghan traders have inked a number of deals, worth $20.5 million with various foreign traders.
The statement said that USAID has supported 25 Afghan traders at where Afghanistan’s agricultural products, including world-class pomegranates, saffron, apples, apricots, melons, grapes, nuts, and raisins were displayed at the Gulf Food Exhibition.
According to the statement the Gulf Food is the world’s largest annual food and hospitality exhibition. This year, it was 23rd event that showcased 5,000 exhibitors from the food, drink, food services, and hospitality industries and more than 97,000 individuals visited the exhibition in the course of the five-day event.
“USAID-supported exporters have yielded tens of millions of dollars in deals since Afghan participation began in 2010. This year, India was the lead buyer of Afghan produce, with 48 percent of the US$12 million in confirmed deals signed at the event, followed by Saudi Arabia, which came in at 17 percent. Potential deals totaled US$8.5 million. The 2,500 metric tons of produce negotiated included raisins, figs, pistachios, saffron, and pine nuts,” the statement said.
“As a result of our participation in Gulf Food, we signed the largest contract our company has ever received to export Kandahar pomegranates,” said Mr. Mahmood, the owner of Afghan Red Pomegranate.
Agriculture products have been the backbone of Afghanistan’s economy. At least 80 percent of the country’s population is dependent on agriculture and livestock
The Gulf Food Exhibition has taken place after the Afghanistan-India Trade and Investment Show was held in New Delhi in 2017 in which the Afghan trades inked various contracts worth 70 million USD.
