KABUL (SW) – Afghanistan was linked on Thursday via air corridors for trade with Russia, China, the European Union and all of India's major cities.
Senior government officials, foreign diplomats and private sector representatives witnessed the establishment of these corridors in a ceremony at the Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul. After the opening of the air corridors, the country's first domestic production batch was exported to European and Asian countries this morning.
Ajmalhamid Abdul Rahimzai, deputy minister at the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, said on the occasion that with the opening of air corridors, the Afghan government and domestic investors can more easily achieve their business goals. He added the government is seeking to strengthen the private sector, and the growth of the private sector will boost the country's economic system and bring positive change in the lives of its citizens. Abdul Rahimzai added that Afghanistan's exports have increased by 32 percent this year.
Khan Jan Alokozai, deputy head of the Afghan Chamber of Commerce and Industry, praised the government's serious measures to promte the private sector. He added such moves of the government will improve Afghanistan's trade relations with the countries of the region and the world. According to Alokozai, with the establishment of the air corridors, for the first time, Afghanistan will be able to reach the European markets after 30 years.
He added that the air corridors will encourage the businessman and improve the reputation of Afghanistan's products in the world.
According to ACCI, since the establishment of such air corridors last year, more than 3000 tons of merchandise products worth $ 60 million have been exported from the country by air.
ENDS
