For the first time, the private sector in the province of Herat has begun exporting pine nuts to Europe.

Twelve tons of pine nuts, eight tons of raisins, and eight tons of pistachio nuts were sent from Herat to Germany in the first shipment.

Through the border of Islam Qala, the cargo will be transported by land to Iran before being routed through Turkey to reach Europe.

"We packaged them with excellent packaging, of great quality, which has all the qualities of Europe,” said Hadi Akrami, director of a company exporting pine nuts.

In a facility in the city of Herat, women process and prepare Nangarhar Pine Nuts for export.

"The pine nuts are of good quality,” said Taj Gul, an employee of the pine nuts processing plant.

"We try very hard, we work seven to eight hours a day,” said Firoza, an employee at the the pine nuts processing center.

Issues with foreign markets and the restrictions on money transfers to Afghanistan are reportedly two major obstacles for the nation's exports.

The Herat province's private sector hopes to return to regular domestic product exports overseas.

“About $250 million to $300 million of Afghanistan's $1 billion in exports come from western areas of Afghanistan, including Herat province,” said Mahdi Akrami, deputy of the Herat Exporters Union.

"The challenge now is the marketing to foreign markets, since merchants have restricted access," said Masoud Sadat, deputy of the Chambers of Commerce and Investment of Herat.

Meanwhile, provincial officials in Herat said that they would facilitate exports from the private sector.

"The Islamic Emirate supports those businessmen and industrialists who export and will address their difficulties” said Bashir Ahmad Sirat, director of industry and trade of Herat.

According to the Herat Exporters Union's figures, fifty different local product types are now exported to other nations.