Afghanistan and Turkmenistan had $481 million worth of trade in 2023, officials at the Ministry of Trade and Industry said.

The acting minister of trade and industry met Turkmenistan’s ambassador to Kabul and discussed a range of trade issues, including the expansion of Afghanistan’s marble export to Turkmenistan.

The ministry in a statement said that both sides agreed on holding an expo for Afghan products in Ashgabat, the capital of Turkmenistan.

“Afghanistan and Turkmenistan had 481 US dollars worth of mutual trade in the year 2023,” Akhundzada Abdul Salaam Jawad, the spokesperson for the Ministry of Trade and Industry, told TOLOnews.

“One thing that we focus on is that we may have more exports in 2024 than 2023 so that we maintain a balance between exports and imports,” Zabiullah Mujahid, spokesperson for the Islamic Emirate said.

In the meantime, the Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Investment said that Turkmenistan has always been positive in trade with Afghanistan.

About the problems of Turkmenistan’s visas for Afghan traders, a member of the chamber said that despite such challenges, the Turghundi and Aqina have been key ports for trade.

“Turkmenistan is a country which borders the Caspian sea on the one hand and maintains good relations with central Asian countries like Kazakhstan. Good relations with this country can help increase transit which will benefit Afghanistan,” Khan Jan Alokozai, a board member of the chamber of commerce and investment, told TOLOnews.

Economic analysts call for increasing the quality and quantity of products for keeping balance in imports and exports with neighboring and regional countries.

“To increase the level of exports and create balance in the bilateral trade, Afghanistan needs to raise its production and GDP,” said Abdul Zohor Modaber, an economist.

According to the ministry of trade and industry, electricity, oil and gas are among the key exports of Turkmenistan to Afghanistan while Afghanistan mostly export marble, dried fruits, potatoes and non-alcoholic beverages to Turkmenistan.