Afghanistan Times
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KABUL – The economic adviser of the Iranian president’s special envoy in Afghanistan affairs revealed that Iran plays a significant role in Afghanistan’s import market, accounting for 35% of it. This substantial share underscores the strong bilateral trade ties between the two nations.
Mohammad-Mehdi Javanmard-Ghassab, during an interview with IRNA, emphasized that Iran and Afghanistan possess vast potential to enhance their trade relations, particularly in the fields of technical engineering services, transportation, and transit. He also highlighted the complementary nature of the Iranian and Afghan economies and stressed the need for a long-term strategic plan to maximize the benefits of this synergy.
Javanmard-Ghassab further detailed Iran’s intent to export technology, technical know-how, and technical and engineering services to Afghanistan. Increasing the production of Iranian goods within Afghanistan is another key objective.
According to Mohammad Ghanadzadeh, the deputy head of Iran’s Trade Promotion Organization (TPO), trade between Iran and Afghanistan has seen a 20% increase in the current Iranian calendar year. Ghanadzadeh expressed Iran’s readiness to collaborate with Afghanistan on development and reconstruction projects.
Highlighting the importance of the trade relationship, Ghanadzadeh noted that Iran is Afghanistan’s leading trade partner. In the previous Iranian calendar year, the two countries’ trade reached $970 million. However, it was noted that political instability in Afghanistan, inadequate infrastructure at border crossings, and customs-related challenges have hindered the full potential of trade between the two nations.
To address these issues, the TPO is actively pursuing the signing of a preferential trade agreement with Afghanistan. Negotiations are progressing, and both countries have exchanged lists of desired goods, particularly in the agricultural sector, for further examination.
Increasing non-oil exports to neighboring countries is a key focus of the Iranian government’s recent efforts. Iran shares land or water borders with 15 countries, including Afghanistan, making it a pivotal player in regional trade dynamics.
