KABUL (SW) – The Islamic Emirate has dispatched a second trade delegation to Turkmenistan within a week.
The delegation, led by Nooruddin Azizi, Acting Minister of Commerce and Industry, includes representatives from both governmental departments and the private sector.
Nooruddin Azizi is leading a delegation, which includes representatives from 17 private sectors on this trip. Azizi has revealed plans for the launch of the Turkmen-Afghan business communication conference and the hosting of an exhibition showcasing Afghan products in Turkmenistan during this visit.
It is said that in this exhibition, the products of 300 companies belonging to Afghanistan will be showcased, of which 250 companies are participating from within Afghanistan, of which 15 companies are owned by women.
“Turkmenistan’s high-ranking officials are with us regarding trade, transit, and solving the problems of our traders, and we also have a large exhibition in which almost 300 companies are with us,” said Mr. Azizi.
Nooruddin Azizi called the meeting with the officials of Turkmenistan and the discussion on the expansion of trade and transit relations between Afghanistan and Turkmenistan among the other goals of this trip, emphasizing that he will make efforts to provide opportunities for balancing trade with Turkmenistan.
According to the latest statistics of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Turkmenistan has a share of 450 million dollars, and Afghanistan only has about 150 million dollars in bilateral trade.
Meanwhile, the Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Investment (ACCI) calls such trips beneficial for improving Afghanistan’s trade and transit relations with other countries, hoping these efforts can solve the challenges faced by Afghan businesspersons, including the challenge of obtaining visas.
Jan Aqa Nawid, the spokesperson for the Chamber, told Salam Watandar: “We hope that this trip can be useful, especially in the business relations between the two countries, and also make the conditions for obtaining visas easier.”
Abdul Nasir Rashtia, an expert on economic issues, argues that bolstering relationships with Central Asian nations, specifically Turkmenistan, would benefit Afghanistan economically. “Maintaining strategic economic relations with neighboring countries and the region is crucial, given the ongoing economic sanctions on Afghanistan.”
