Afghanistan has exported its first shipment of natural stone to the United States, marking a significant milestone in the country’s efforts to expand mineral exports and strengthen its foothold in international markets.

The shipment, valued at $100,000, was sent by a private Afghan company and consists of black stone extracted from the Zindajan mine in the western province of Herat.

The export was coordinated through the Herat Chamber of Industries before being shipped to the U.S.

Industry officials said the export underscores the growing potential of Afghanistan’s mining sector, which is home to vast untapped reserves of minerals and natural stone. They expressed hope that increased access to international markets would encourage investment, boost production, and create new employment opportunities.

Herat, one of Afghanistan’s principal commercial and industrial centres, has long played a key role in the country’s trade due to its strategic location and abundance of natural resources. Officials believe expanding exports of locally sourced minerals could help diversify Afghanistan’s economy and strengthen the private sector.

The shipment forms part of broader efforts to increase Afghanistan’s exports and promote the country’s mining and industrial products in global markets.

Authorities have repeatedly identified the mining sector as a key driver of long-term economic growth, with natural stone among the products expected to attract greater international demand.

Afghanistan’s Economic Commission has approved a series of measures to expand the capacity of Sher Khan Port in an effort to strengthen trade with Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, and China.

The commission, chaired by Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, met on Tuesday to review proposals submitted by the Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation aimed at increasing regional trade through the northern border crossing.

According to the approved plan, the Ministries of Finance, Interior, and other relevant institutions will develop new infrastructure at Sher Khan Port and expand existing facilities to accommodate growing trade volumes.

The commission also approved extending the port’s operating hours in coordination with Tajikistan to facilitate the movement of a greater number of commercial vehicles and improve cross-border trade.

In addition, the Ministry of Finance was instructed to allocate funding for the construction of a logistics center at Sher Khan Port. The facility will provide customs services, warehousing, cargo handling, and freight-loading operations to streamline trade activities.

The meeting also directed the Ministry of Public Works to construct the necessary railway infrastructure inside Afghanistan to activate the ECO railway corridor, a regional transport initiative linking Iran, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, and Kyrgyzstan under the framework of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO).

Separately, the commission decided that several state-owned entities will transfer their scrap iron to the National Development Company, which will process the material into standard steel reinforcing bars (rebar) for use in major government infrastructure projects.

The commission also endorsed 37 national standards and 12 testing methods proposed by the National Standards and Quality Authority. The standards cover agricultural products, food items, pharmaceuticals, construction materials, telecommunications and electrical equipment, chemicals, plastics, medical equipment, and several other sectors. Officials said the standards were developed in line with Afghanistan’s current needs and international benchmarks.

The meeting concluded with the presentation of follow-up reports on a number of ongoing issues, and relevant institutions were given the necessary directives. All decisions adopted during the session have been forwarded to the Office of the Supreme Leader for final approval.

Afghanistan and Uzbekistan signed 25 cooperation agreements worth $50 million during a bilateral business forum held in the northern city of Mazar-e-Sharif, officials said.

Faiz Ahmad Khawafi, Deputy for Provincial Affairs at the Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Investment, said the agreements were signed in the presence of 130 Uzbek businessmen and investors, the governor of Uzbekistan’s Fergana region, as well as Afghan local officials and private sector representatives.

According to Khawafi, the agreements aim to expand bilateral trade, boost investment, and strengthen economic cooperation between Afghanistan and Uzbekistan.

The business forum reflects ongoing efforts by both countries to deepen commercial ties and promote regional economic integration through increased private-sector engagement.