Business
Three-day expo opens in Kabul to promote domestic products
Afghanistan’s Traders and Investors Union in coordination with the ministries of Industry and Commerce, and Information and Culture opened a three-day international expo in Kabul of locally made products on Tuesday.
The expo, titled “Strengthening the Economy of Afghanistan”, brought together dozens of business people who are showcasing their goods, including women entrepreneurs.
According to the Ministry of Industry and Commerce (MoIC), the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) government fully supports economic activities in the country.
The MoIC’s minister Nooruddin Azizi has asked domestic producers to consider international standards in their productions.
“We hope one day to have such expos in countries like the United Arab Emirates, China, and the countries of Central Asia, so that we can sell our domestic products,” said Azizi.
“Hoping one day to transform our country from an import to an export state,” he added.
Other Islamic Emirate officials have said it is important that such exhibitions are held in order to support domestic products, saying that until the country is economically self-sufficient, the country’s problems will not be solved with external aid.
“More than 90 percent of Afghanistan’s exports are agricultural products, and we cannot achieve self-sufficiency without paying attention to the manufacturing sector,” said Inamullah Samangani, head of the Government Media and Information Center.
The organizers of the expo meanwhile said that their goal is to strengthen Afghanistan’s economy and they have asked people to use domestic products instead of foreign ones.
Pakistan’s kinno exports remain far below potential as regional tensions, high freight costs and weak government support continue to choke the citrus trade.
Despite being a leading global citrus producer, Pakistan is expected to export just 400,000–450,000 tonnes of kinno in the 2025–26 season, compared with an estimated capacity of 700,000–800,000 tonnes.
Exports in 2024–25 stood at around 350,000–400,000 tonnes, mainly to Russia, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Afghanistan, Indonesia and Central Asia. While better fruit quality this season has raised hopes, persistent crossing disruptions—especially with Afghanistan—and transport bottlenecks have offset gains.
Growers say prices have collapsed sharply, forcing panic sales. Rates for large kinno have fallen from over Rs120 per kg early in the season to as low as Rs75, while smaller fruit is selling for Rs35–40 per kg amid weak demand.
Industry leaders warn the crisis is crippling processing units and jobs. More than 100 factories reportedly failed to open this season, with dozens more shutting down as exports stall. Cold storages in Sargodha are nearly full, putting fruit worth millions of dollars at risk of spoilage, while growers fear losses of up to Rs10 billion.
Exporters are urging the government to urgently resolve issues, subsidise logistics, and help access alternative markets, warning that prolonged inaction could devastate farmers, workers and the wider economy.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has said that Tehran will facilitate trade and economic exchanges with Afghanistan, including easing procedures at customs and local marketplaces.
He made the remarks during a televised interview following his visit to South Khorasan province, which shares a border with Afghanistan.
Pezeshkian, in a separate event addressing local business leaders, highlighted the province’s strategic advantages, citing its rich mineral resources, proximity to neighboring countries such as Afghanistan and Pakistan, and access to the ocean via the Chabahar port. He described the region as “a golden opportunity not found everywhere,” emphasizing its potential for economic growth and cross-border commerce.
A Kazakh delegation led by the Deputy Minister of Finance of Kazakhstan met with Sediqullah Khalid, First Deputy Governor of Da Afghanistan Bank, to discuss ways of strengthening banking and economic cooperation between the two countries.
According to a statement issued by Da Afghanistan Bank, Khalid said the central bank is keen to establish regular and effective banking relations with Kazakhstan as part of broader efforts to expand bilateral trade.
He noted that enhanced banking cooperation would help facilitate trade, investment, and wider economic interaction between Afghanistan and Kazakhstan, while also contributing to financial stability at the regional level.
Members of the Kazakh delegation also emphasized the importance of developing banking and economic ties and expressed their readiness to expand joint cooperation.
The two sides further agreed to establish technical committees from both countries to hold expert-level discussions and advance practical steps for cooperation.
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