The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) said the Iranian Envoy for Afghanistan pledged his country would jointly work and assist Afghanistan’s economic sector.
Iranian envoy Hasan Kazemi Qomi, in a meeting with the acting minister of foreign affairs, Amir Khan Muttaqi, made the remarks and further said Iran will assist various sectors of Afghanistan including with mining, agriculture, energy and railways.
“The Iranian envoy for Afghanistan expressed his country’s readiness to help agriculture, mining and energy in Afghanistan,” said Hafez Zia Ahmad Takal, deputy spokesman of the MoFA.
The leadership of the Ministry of Economy who was present at the meeting expressed hopes the meeting would result in progress for the Afghan economy.
“Iran is an economic and commercial partner for Afghanistan in the region. Iran envoy’s trip will have an impact on developing economic and trade relations between the two countries and such cooperation will benefit both Iran and Afghanistan,” said Abdul Latif Nazari, deputy minister of Economy.
“In the current situation, the economic and trade relations of Iran with Afghanistan will be very effective, the two countries should take important steps based on economic agreements,” said Taj Mohammad Talash, economic expert.
Meanwhile, as trade relations is increasing between Afghanistan and Iran, illegal import of goods from Iran to Afghanistan has also increased, according to Afghanistan Chambers Federation (ACF).
The volume of the goods coming to Afghanistan through smuggling from Iran and Pakistan is equal to the level of the goods coming legally and the trend severely damaging domestic production, the ACF chief Khan Jan Alokozai said.
“Fifty percent of goods is imported legally and 50 percent illegally, not only from Iran, but also from Pakistan. This trend puts severe implications on our economy,” Alokozai added. He said that illegal import of goods from Iran has doubled following COVID-19 outbreak.
The Afghan Ministry of Industry and Commerce said the government is taking proper measures to prevent illegal import of goods.
“We have discussed the issue with the Afghan Ministry of Interior Affairs and officials at our borders and customs offices and also our business community and Ministry of Finance. We are looking to ensure the formation a committee to prevent this as soon as possible,” said Nisar Ahmad Ghoryani, nominee for the Ministry of Industry and Commerce.
Earlier, a number of businessmen and members of the Chamber of Industries and Mines raised concerns about what they described as Iran’s dumping policies in Afghanistan.—Tolonews
