KABUL (SW): Officials at the Afghanistan Chambers of Commerce and Industries (ACCI) told Salam Watandar that during the first 9 nine months of this year (2017-2018), more than 144,000 tons of vegetables worth $100 million have been exported to Pakistan, India, China, Kazakhstan, Iran, Russia, Germany and other European countries.
Khan Jan Alakozai, deputy director of ACCI, said that 117,000 tons of these vegetables which constitute roughly 90 percent of all the exported vegetables have been exported to Pakistan only. The high percentage of vegetable exports to Pakistan is indicative of Pakistan’s interest in Afghanistan’s produce and its good market in that country, said Alakozai.
However, Sayed Azam Mostafa Hashimi, Chairman of Fruits, Vegetables and Raisin Exporters Association, told Salam Watandar that out of more than 144,000 tons of vegetables exported outside the country, only 7000 tons have been issued a high-quality certificate by them.
Afghanistan’s exports of vegetables, which received high-quality certificates have reached 13,000 tons in the past nine months, Mr. Hashimi added.
Khan Jan Alakozai, deputy director of ACCI, said that in addition to the quality certificate, merchants can export vegetables with an attestation of the origin of the export, which shows the origin country, and exports quarantines paper issued by the Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock, as well.
Onion, potato, cauliflower, tomato, carrot, coriander, garlic, and cucumber are among the most widely exported vegetables from Afghanistan.
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