Iran-Afghanistan trade potential is estimated at 10 billion dollars: Rashmi Mashhad, IRNA -. Iran and Afghanistan have the potential to expand their bilateral trade to about $10 billion, although actual economic exchanges are already much higher than official figures indicate, the head of the Iran-Afghanistan Joint Chamber of Commerce said. Kamaluddin Tohid said on Wednesday that the actual volume of trade between the two countries is $3 billion to $4 billion, noting that significant transactions, including family transfers, technical and engineering services and unregistered exchanges, are not reflected in official statistics.
Speaking at a meeting with the head of the Kandahar Chamber of Industries and Mines and the deputy governor for economic affairs, Khorasan Razavis, Tohid said that the export of technical and engineering services from the Iranian province to Afghanistan alone could reach at least 500 million dollars a year.
He welcomed the latest steps to ease border restrictions but called for their full implementation. Cargo clearance and transfer times, which previously took up to a month, have decreased to two or three days, although further improvements are needed.
Tohid also proposed special trade shows and permanent centers to showcase Iranian and Afghan products, while encouraging joint investment in agriculture, food processing and mining.
The head of the Kandahar Bureau, Syed Muhammad Sarwar Amani, highlighted Afghanistan's dry fruit production and mineral resources as promising areas for trade expansion.
Khorasan Razavi Deputy Governor Reza Jamshidi emphasized the need for transparent investment regulations and stronger border coordination to open up bilateral trade opportunities.