KABUL (SW) – Nooruddin Azizi, the Acting Minister of Commerce and Industry (MoCI) of the Islamic Emirate, embarked on a pivotal journey to Iran, holding a meeting with Sardar Mohammad Karami, the governor of Sistan and Baluchistan province in Iran to strengthen bilateral trade relations.
During the diplomatic mission, the focus remained steadfast on amplifying bilateral trade opportunities and enhancing Afghanistan’s transit potential through the strategic Chabahar Port route.
In the meeting, Azizi advocated for facilities such as price reductions, establishing preferential routes for Afghan transit goods through Chabahar Port, improving road and rail infrastructure, and easing transit quarantine restrictions along the Chabahar route.
Meanwhile, Akhundzada Abdul Salam Javad, the spokesperson for the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, stated, “Both sides have agreed to establish a joint technical committee in the province to pursue issues related to the development of trade between the two countries and enhancing transit through Chabahar.”
Analysts consider the improvement of trade and transit with Iran as beneficial to Afghanistan. They suggest that Afghanistan should endeavor to transfer Iranian industrial knowledge to the country, thereby fostering greater utilization of the Chabahar route.
Qais Mohammadi, an expert in economic affairs, explained, “The expectation from these visits to Iran is to convince the Iranian side to treat Afghanistan not just as an exporter but as a trading partner. Afghanistan should not only be seen as a market but also as a destination for investment, enabling the transfer of industrial knowledge to the Afghan people through investments.”
Iran, alongside Pakistan, is among the most significant countries for Afghanistan in terms of trade and transit.
Recently, Abdul Ghani Baradar, the Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs of the Islamic Emirate government, also achieved a series of agreements during his visit to Iran, focusing on strengthening trade and transit between the two countries, including enhancing Afghanistan’s utilization of the Chabahar route.
