Afghanistan launches new export route to India through Iran
Afghanistan began exporting to India via an Iranian port on Sunday, as the landlocked nation turns to overseas markets to improve its economy.
Officials said 23 trucks carrying 57 tons of dried fruits, textiles, carpets and mineral products were dispatched from western Afghan city of Zaranj to Iran’s Chabahar port. The consignment will be shipped to the Indian city of Mumbai, Reuters reported.
At the inauguration of the new export route, President Ashraf Ghani said Afghanistan was slowly improving its exports in a bid to reduce its trade deficit.
“Chabahar port is the outcome of healthy cooperation between India, Iran and Afghanistan this will ensure economic growth,” he said.
The Iranian port provides easy access to the sea to Afghanistan and India has helped developed this route to allow both countries to engage in trade bypassing Pakistan.
Last year the US government granted an exception to certain US sanctions that allowed development of Chabahar port as part of a new transportation corridor designed to boost Afghanistan’s economy and meet their needs of nonsanctionable goods such as food and medicines.
India has sent 1.1 million tons of wheat and 2,000 tons of lentils to Afghanistan via Chabahar. Both countries established an air corridor in 2017. Afghan exports to India stood at $740 million in 2018, making it the largest export destination, officials said.