Air corridor between Delhi and Kabul to resume soon: Afghan officials

New Delhi: Afghanistan officials in the Ministry of Industry and Commerce said that the air corridor had been reopened to develop trade between Afghanistan and India.

Afghan traders expressed frustration and said they face severe challenges with exports via Wagga port. Last year, when the Taliban took over the charge of Afghanistan, the trade between India and Afghanistan halted.

Afghans were earning considerable revenue from India on export and import. 

The Ministry of Industry and Commerce spokesperson Abdul Salam Jaweed announced in Kabul on October 31 that a trade agreement has been signed between the Islamic Emirate and India.

The Industry and Commerce Minister, Nooruddin Azizi, said that having trade agreements with India is in the interest of Afghanistan. He considers India and Canada as alternative countries to buy wheat.

The Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) said that the export of the asafoetida plant, saffron and dry fruits would be conducted through the air corridor.

The Tolo news quoting Mohammad Younus Momand, head of the ACCI 
“We need to export some of the commodities via the air corridor. However, we currently export pine nuts to India and UAE through an air corridor.” 

The Afghan traders called India a good market for Afghan exports.
“Over the past several years, it has been proven that India has been the major market for Afghan products, particularly dry fruits,” said Mahbobullah Mohammadi, a trader.

According to the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, trade and export of goods to India increased this year compared to last year. Thirty thousand tons of handicrafts and handicrafts have been exported from Afghanistan to India this year.