The National Statistics and Information Authority (NSIA) reported that Afghanistan has traded with neighboring countries and the region up to nearly one billion dollars in the past month.

The spokesperson of NSIA said that $227 million dollars is made up of exports, mostly to the countries of India, Pakistan, China, Iran and the United Arab Emirates in various sectors, where the most important export items were fresh fruit, dried fruit, vegetables, precious and semi-precious stones and carpets.

"In the month of Aqrab of the current year (Solar year), $227.1 million worth of exports were made and $681.5 million worth of imports were made. These exports were mostly sent to Pakistan, India and China, while the imports were to Pakistan, the United Arab Emirates and Iran,” said  Mohammad Halim Rafi, spokesman for the NSIA.

Meanwhile, the Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Investment (ACCI) said that the amount of exports from Afghanistan to other countries has increased compared to previous years.

“Our exports change every month and every year, it reaches from $100 million dollars to $250 million dollars based on the season. Our exports are seasonal,” said Khan Jan Alokozay, a member of the ACCI’s Board of Directors.

A number of businessmen emphasized that their challenges at the crossings should also be addressed in order to increase the amount of exports.

"The creation of transit routes, the creation of different customs and the regulation of export programs through different ways should be the priority of the current government’s programs. The way of exporting through Pakistan is more challenging while the way of importing through Aqeena is more expensive, especially from countries like China or other countries,” said Mahbobullah Mohammadi, a trader.

“With the increase in exports, the country's income increases and the value of Afghanistan's commercial goods increases in the world markets, and, on the other hand, the decrease in imports has a positive effect on commercial transactions,” said Mohammad Shaker Yaqubi, an economic expert.

Meanwhile, the Economic Commission of the Prime Minister's Office has said that in the eleven months of this year, more than $1.7 billion worth of exports have been made to other countries.