The Ministry of Industry and Commerce reported a 20% increase in the export of dried fruits in the year 1402 (solar year).

According to Akhundzada Abdul Salam Jawad, the Commerce and Industry spokesman, last year dried fruits worth $466 million dollars were exported to India, China, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Germany, and Turkey.

The Commerce and Industry spokesman, added: "The total export of Afghanistan's dried fruits in the year 1402 has increased by about 20% compared to the year 1401, which amounts to about $78 million dollars."

The Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Investment (ACCI) considered the increase in flights through the country's air corridors as important in boosting the export of dried fruits.

ACCI spokesman Jan Agha Nawid, said: "Part of the air corridor should be financed by the government or supporting institutions of Afghanistan, and subsidies should be provided so that they can offer their items in the market and compete in those markets."

A number of traders in the country mentioned banking restrictions, existing challenges in obtaining business visas, and transit and trade challenges at the country's passageways as the main challenges to the export of dried fruits in 1402 (solar year).

"This year the government should reduce the bureaucracy in export programs and the documents that we need for export, which take at least two to three days to process, and we also face problems in customs to a sufficient extent," said Mahboobullah Mohammadi, a trader.

According to the statistics of the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, in 1402 (solar year), exports worth $1.8 billion dollars were conducted outside the country.