Official: Afghanistan expanding trade relations with Iran

EghtesadOnline: Afghanistan’s Deputy Trade Minister Mohammad Qorban Haqjou on Sunday underlined that his country is broadening its trade relations with Iran.

News ID: ۷۷۴۷۳۴

20 March 2017

'Afghanistan has reduced its trade exchanges with Pakistan by half, but it is at the same time boosting its economic ties with Iran,” IRNA quoted Haqjou as saying.

“The value of Iran-Afghanistan trade balance hit $2.579 million in 2015,” he added.

Haqjou noted that Afghanistan’s Chamber of Commerce put the value of trade exchanges with Pakistan to hit $3 billion in 2015, while the same figure has hit $1.5 billion in 2016.

“China, Iran and India will soon replace Pakistan in Afghanistan’s markets and Islamabad will loose its biggest market soon,” he said.

Haqjou noted that blocking the paths to Pakistan for Afghan people and businessmen has incurred a loss of $100 million for the merchants.