Business
Afghan and Iran customs committees meet to resolve issues
The office of the deputy prime minister for economic affairs said on Sunday that meetings of the joint committees between Afghanistan and Iran have been held and previous agreements were discussed in order to resolve problems and expand trade and transit relations between the two countries.
The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) stated that it was agreed that customs units at the three border crossings – Islam Qala, Nimroz and Abu Nasr Farahi – and the Iranian side, will remain open for 16 hours a day, up from eight hours.
Also, an agreement was reached between the two countries for the purpose of increasing exports and imports, so that the number of vehicles transporting goods on a daily basis would increase from 550 to 1,200.
In these meetings, the 20-day ban on Iranian trucks entering Afghan territory was also removed. Both parties also announced the cancellation of some fixed fees for the purpose of promoting business, the office said.
Iran has scrapped one fee of $104 dollars (5,000 afghanis).
The aim of these meetings is to follow up on the agreements made with Iranian officials during the last visit of Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, the Economic Deputy of the Prime Minister, to Iran.
During Baradar’s visit to Iran, a number of memoranda of understanding were signed to increase trade and transit between the two countries, and it was also agreed to appoint joint committees to follow up on issues.
The press office of the Herat governor has announced the export of Afghanistan’s first shipment via the Khaf-Herat railway to Europe.
According to a statement from the office, the shipment includes 200 tons of dried fruits worth $1.2 million, which were exported to Turkey and Europe through the Khaf-Herat railway in the presence of Islam Jar, the governor of this province, and the Iranian Consul General.
The exported dried fruits in this shipment include pistachios, raisins, almonds, and pine nuts.
The statement added that over the past three months, more than 35,000 tons of goods have been transferred via the Khaf-Herat railway.
Business
Russia’s LPG exports to Afghanistan boom as Europe shuns it
The exports to Afghanistan, the main consumer of Russia’s LPG in the region, rose by 52% for the period to 71,000 tons.
Russia’s exports of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) to Afghanistan and ex-Soviet states in Central Asia have jumped following introduction of European Union sanctions against Moscow at the end of 2024, industry sources said on Wednesday, Reuters reported.
The European Union’s sanctions against Russia’s LPG over the war in Ukraine took effect on December 20. The restrictions were proposed last year by Poland, one of Russia’s largest LPG importers.
LPG, or propane and butane, is mainly used as fuel for cars, heating and to produce other petrochemicals.
According to the industry sources, railway supplies of LPG from Russia’s plants, including the Kazrosgas joint venture with Kazakhstan, jumped to the region by 80% year on year in January – February to 140,000 metric tons, read the report.
The exports to Afghanistan, the main consumer of Russia’s LPG in the region, rose by 52% for the period to 71,000 tons.
Traders expect great scope for more supplies to Afghanistan, where annual demand for LPG is seen at around 700,000 tons per year.
Acting Minister of Industry and Commerce Nooruddin Azizi and Zhao Xing, the Chinese Ambassador to Kabul, met on Tuesday and discussed increasing Afghanistan’s exports to China, particularly pine nuts, pomegranates, and precious and semi-precious stones such as nephrite, onyx, lapis lazuli, and talc, the ministry said in a statement.
According to the statement the goal of the meeting was to facilitate direct exports to China in order to reduce transit costs and transportation of Afghan goods, as well as to address the importation of machinery needed for the country.
Azizi and Zhao have agreed to establish a joint working group for further coordination, expanding trade relations, and creating facilities for trade, with the aim of holding regular meetings, the statement read.
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