Afghanistan Plans Air Route for Exporting Fruits to India, Gulf Countries

Afghan Commerce and Industries Ministry is planning to export fruits to India, Gulf and Central Asian countries through air route.

Officials say the focus of exporting products by air route is to improve landlocked Afghanistan’s connectivity to key markets abroad and boost the growth prospects of its fruit industries.

“Talks underway and it is important for us to shift fruits through air route,” said the Commerce and Industries Spokesman, Musafer Qoqandi.

According to Qoqandi, Afghanistan’s fruit exports to India and Gulf countries are about $80 million per year.

“We are in talks with the Ministry of Transport to export fruits to markets in abroad within coming two months,” said Spokesman of Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Industries (ACCI), Seyam Pesarly.

The Transport and Civil Aviation Ministry (MoTC) also stresses on taking serious steps to export fresh fruits abroad.

“We are fully prepared to export fruits through air route,” said Spokesman of MoTC, Mahmood Shah Habibi.

This comes after  fruit traders and gardeners have repeatedly criticized the government’s plans for exporting fresh fruits.