KABUL (Pajhwok): Representatives of the private sectors of Afghanistan and Iran have held a joint economic meeting in the Dogharoun Free Trade Zone to discuss expanding trade relations, identifying joint investment opportunities and increasing commercial exchanges.
The Afghanistan-Iran Joint Chamber of Commerce said in a statement on X on Wednesday that the meeting was attended by Parviz Haidari, chief executive of the joint chamber; Syed Sarwar Amani, head of the Kandahar Chamber of Mines and Industries; Mohammadreza Modoudi, director-general of the Dogharoun Free Trade Zone Organisation; and a number of traders and businesspeople from both countries.
According to the statement, participants discussed ways to expand economic and trade relations, identify joint investment opportunities, develop industrial cooperation and facilitate commercial activities between Afghanistan and Iran.
Haidari stressed the importance of strengthening economic and trade relations between the two countries.
He said the joint chamber had so far invited and sent several trade and economic delegations to Afghanistan and remained ready to cooperate with Iran’s private sector and provide services to its traders.
He expressed hope that opportunities for joint ventures between Iranian traders and their Afghan counterparts, including industrialists, would be further expanded.
Haidari also referred to the target of increasing annual trade between Afghanistan and Iran to $10 billion, saying achieving this goal required cooperation, coordination and active participation by the private sectors of both countries.
He added that Kandahar and other Afghan provinces were also committed to helping achieve the target, expressing hope that practical measures and stronger trade ties would further boost economic relations between the two countries.
Modoudi highlighted the extensive economic and industrial potential of the Dogharoun Free Trade Zone, saying capable Iranian companies were ready to participate in various exhibitions and explore joint investment opportunities with Afghan partners.
Ali Salari, legal director-general of the Dogharoun Free Trade Zone, stressed the importance of legal guarantees for Afghan investors, noting that one of their main concerns was ensuring the protection of their investments.
Referring to Iran’s laws and regulations, he assured investors that their investments would be supported and protected under the country’s legal framework.
Salari said the Dogharoun Free Trade Zone had considerable potential for production and exports.
He added that investors could import goods into the zone, process and package them, and then export them to various countries, including Afghanistan.
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