The Ministry of Industry and Commerce announced efforts to increase export levels abroad.
According to the ministry's information, in the first three months of 2024, the value of exports and imports between the caretaker government and other countries was nearly $2.7 billion.
Akhundzada Abdul Salam Jawad, the spokesperson for the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, said, "Afghanistan's trade in the first quarter of 2024 was approximately $2.683 billion, of which about $428 million was exports and $2.255 billion was imports. Exports were mainly to Pakistan, India, Iran, China, the United Arab Emirates, and other countries."
The country's major export items include dried fruit, fresh fruits, carpets, and precious and semi-precious stones.
The Chamber of Commerce and Investment said that since the return of the Islamic Emirate, special attention has been paid to expanding Afghanistan's trade relations with regional countries, but more facilities need to be provided for the transfer of goods to other countries.
"Our exports have improved compared to the Republic era. The main reason for this improvement is the facilitation of the export process and the increase in the export of minerals such as chromite, nephrite, and coal," said Khan Jan Alokozay, a member of the ACCI’s board of directors.
A number of traders believe that if their challenges in the field of exports are addressed, the volume of exports will also increase.
"We need alternative routes for exports to be provided, and traders should have access to these routes to resolve their challenges. The Ministry of Industry and Commerce recently opened the Chabahar port and set goals, which we hope to achieve," said Omid Haidari, a trader.
Statistics from the Ministry of Industry and Commerce show that in the year 1402 (solar year), exports to other countries amounted to $1.8 billion.