Afghanistan's trade with five Central Asian countries totaled $1.7bn in the solar year 1403, ToloNews reported citing the Ministry of Industry and Commerce.
Spokesperson Akhundzada Abdul Salam Jawad shared that the trade balance comprised $112mn in exports and $1.584bn in imports. This trade activity continued smoothly throughout the past ten months of the solar year.
Afghanistan’s exports to Central Asia include fresh and dried fruits, juices, talc stone, and agricultural products such as asafoetida (hing), potatoes, and onions. In return, Afghanistan imported vital goods, including electricity, fuel, wheat flour, cooking oil, raw materials for factories, chemical fertilizers, and cement.
This growth in trade is considered valuable for fostering regional and international trade, with economic experts emphasizing the importance of strengthening commercial ties further.
"Central Asian countries can be a good market for us," said economic analyst Mohammad Nabi Afghan, noting that these nations are keen to connect South Asia with Central Asia through Afghanistan, particularly after the Ukraine war. "Unfortunately, Afghanistan faces many challenges in fully capitalizing on this opportunity."
Mohammad Asif Stanikzai, another analyst, pointed out the importance of Afghanistan's relationship with its neighboring Central Asian countries—Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan—stating that the country’s economic strategy should focus on further engaging with these nations.
In 2024, Afghanistan's total trade value amounted to $12.4bn, with $1.8bn in exports and $10.6bn in imports, indicating overall growth in the country's trade activities.
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