Business leaders from Afghanistan and Iran, alongside Iranian and Taliban officials, met in Kabul to explore ways to strengthen economic ties between the two nations.
The discussions focused on addressing challenges faced by businesses, enhancing trade relations, and attracting joint investments.
Among the attendees were Abbas Stanikzai, the Taliban’s deputy foreign minister; Alireza Bigdeli, Iran’s ambassador to Afghanistan; and Mohammad Yunus Mohmand, the deputy head of Afghanistan’s Chamber of Commerce and Investment.
In his remarks, Mohmand underscored Afghanistan’s rich natural resources, particularly in mining and agriculture, and called on Iran to introduce preferential tariffs for Afghan dried fruit exports to facilitate trade.
Stanikzai echoed the importance of boosting economic collaboration, stating, “For economic progress, we must actively pursue increased trade interactions and partnerships.”
Similarly, Ambassador Bigdeli highlighted the significance of enhancing bilateral economic, transit, and political ties. “We need to establish conditions conducive to joint investments and streamline trade processes for entrepreneurs in both countries,” he said.
The meeting also emphasized the strategic role of Iran’s Chabahar port in fostering regional trade and facilitating Afghanistan’s connectivity to Gulf states and India. Discussions included proposals for balancing exports and imports and setting preferential tariffs for Afghan goods, particularly dried fruits.
According to an Iranian official, annual trade between Afghanistan and Iran has surged to $3 billion. Shir Del, a border official from Taybad in Iran’s Khorasan Razavi province, noted during the 22nd meeting of the Dogharoon Border Coordination Committee that the rise reflects the growing interest of Afghan and Iranian investors and business leaders in expanding trade.
