Observer Report Kabul
As the first cargo plane carrying Chilgoza (pine nuts) left Kabul for China on Sunday, it laid the foundation of a “pine nut air corridor” between the two friendly neighboring countries.
According to Gwadar Pro, a special ceremony was held at Kabul Airport to inaugurate the cargo air service between Afghanistan and China.
Deputy Prime Minister of Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan Abdul Salam Hanafi, Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid and officials of Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) were present on the occasion.
“Merchants and traders are our assets and Islamic Emirate will fully support them,” Zabihullah Mujahid said on the occasion.
Wang Yu, Chinese Ambassador to Afghanistan in a Twitter message said that despite limited Global Air Transport, both countries overcame numerous difficulties and managed flights, solving “the problem of Afghan farmers, solidifying the trade ties between the two countries”.
According to him, the first flight of pine nuts bound for China was carrying “45 tons” of pine nuts and he added that in coming months “tens of thousands tons of pine nuts will be exported to China”.
The income would reach hundreds of millions of U.S. dollars, greatly benefiting many Afghan farmers, he said.
Ambassador Yu said that these little pine nuts bring happiness to Afghan people and good taste to Chinese people, and “pine nut air corridor” is the important bond of friendship between the two countries. Pine nuts, locally known as Chilghoza, is one of the major products, grown in northwestern Himalayas in Afghanistan.
Among the eight provinces in eastern Afghanistan with pine nut trees are Khost, Paktia, Paktika, Kapisa, Kunar, Nangarhar, Nuristan and Laghman.
