In a first, Herat exports jam to foreign markets

HERAT CITY (Pajhwok): Amid a surge in exports, industrialists in western Herat province have started exporting jam to the US, Canada and Kazakhstan, officials said on Thursday.

Mohammad Naser Amin, a member of the provincial Chamber of Commerce and Industry told Pajhwok Afghan News currently 1,160 factories were operating in Herat, producing different commodities.

In addition to domestic markets, products of these factories are sent to some international markets as well, he said.

Mohammad Wahid Masoomi, the Gulistan Arghwan Factory director said they purchased around 20 tonnes of carrots daily and then processed into carrot-jam, the factory was producing different types of fig, sour cherry, carrot and quince jams along the seasons of year.

These factories purchased fruits in their seasons and then stored in cold storages for processing into jams.

Masoomi said: “In the past we sent our jam to foreign and domestic markets through contracting companies, but recently we directly sent it to the markets in the US, Canada and Kazakhstan. We are satisfied with these markets and the demand for our products.”

He further said he had employed around 80 workers in his factory.

The workers also expressed their satisfaction with the employment opportunities and called for domestic products to be supported in order to further increase employment.

Maulvi Basheer Mohammad Seerat Provincial Industry and Commerce director hailed efforts made by industrialists and the export of their products to foreign markets, adding the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) was standing by them and supporting their efforts.

The industrialists have the capacity to export some of their products to foreign markets, and the IEA is trying to provide further facilities for them, Seerat said.

Before this, some non-alcoholic beverages and food items were also exported to foreign markets from Herat province.

aw/ma