KABUL (TOLONews): A high-level delegation led by Seyyed Mohammad Atabak, Iran’s Minister of Industry, Mines, and Trade, arrived in Kabul this morning.
The Iranian Minister stated that his country intends to expand its trade relations with all neighboring countries, particularly Afghanistan.
Referring to the shared historical ties between Iran and Afghanistan, Mr. Atabak emphasized Iran’s commitment to enhancing economic and commercial cooperation with Afghanistan.
He said: “We intend to pursue the plans we have laid out during our meetings with Afghan government officials to elevate the level of exchanges and strengthen bilateral cooperation, and to initiate new programs as well.”
Meanwhile, Afghanistan’s Ministry of Industry and Commerce described the purpose of the visit as reviewing existing challenges to bilateral trade and exploring ways to facilitate transit and joint investment between the two countries.
Akhundzada Abdul Salam Jawad, spokesperson for the ministry, said: “The delegation is scheduled to meet with the economic deputies of the Ministries of Industry and Commerce, Mines and Petroleum, and Public Works of the Islamic Emirate, as well as members of Afghanistan’s private sector.”
On the other hand, the Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Investment (ACCI) welcomed the visit as a step toward strengthening economic cooperation between Kabul and Tehran. However, it also stressed the importance of addressing challenges related to Afghanistan’s exports and transit of goods to Iran during talks with the delegation.
Jan Agha Nawid, spokesperson for the ACCI, said: “The arrival of this high-ranking Iranian delegation, led by the Minister of Industry, Mines, and Trade, is a positive step in our trade and economic relations with our neighboring country. The Chamber’s position is that we must expand our economic and commercial ties with neighboring countries, the region, and the world.”
Currently, the trade volume between Iran and Afghanistan exceeds $3.5 billion, yet Afghanistan’s share in these exchanges remains notably small.
