Editor in Chief: Moh. Reza Huwaida Friday, March 29th, 2024

Afghanistan, Iran Sign Economic Cooperation Pact

Afghanistan,  Iran Sign Economic Cooperation Pact

KABUL - Afghanistan and Iran have signed an economic cooperation agreement at the end of the second meeting of the Afghan-Iran economic committee, officials said.
Afghan Ministry of Finance said on Monday that Afghanistan and Iran have also agreed to form joint committees to solve trade and transit problems and to address customs problems that Afghan traders face at Chabahar port.

The two-day meeting of the Afghan-Iran economic committee in Kabul discussed cooperation in customs, transport and railway, addressing problems of Afghan and Iranian traders on both sides, and prevention of money laundering.

"The difference with this meeting than those in the past is that we have set timelines for everything that should be done," Financial Deputy of the Afghan Ministry of Finance, Mustafa Mastoor, said.

Iran's Deputy Minister of Economy, Behrooz Alishiri, said that economic relationship between Iran and Afghanistan should not be overshadowed by political relations with other countries.

"We are committed to reduce the vulnerability of the traders of the two countries to reach the minimum level," Mr Alishiri said.

The trade between Iran and Afghanistan has reached to over one billion dollars and it is expected to increase after transit problems are solved.

Meanwhile, Afghan experts doubt the practicality of economic agreements inked between Afghanistan and its neighbors. They say that such agreements have been signed with some of the neighbors in the past but have not been implemented yet.