The third Imam Abu Hanifa Expo and Trade Fair was officially opened in Kabul on Sunday by Afghanistan’s Deputy Prime Minister for Economy Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar who said the aim is to bring local and foreign investors together. 

The expo will last for seven days and is showcasing a variety of locally manufactured products and services at 700 booths. The opening was meanwhile attended by high-ranking officials, representatives of neighboring countries and business owners. 

Baradar said: "The good thing about this exhibition is that domestic and foreign traders and investors exchange views and these exhibitions play an important role in improving the market situation for producers and solving the problems of traders."

While appreciating the activities of businessmen and investors in Afghanistan, he reminded them that there are good investment opportunities for foreign countries and businesses in Afghanistan.

Nooruddin Azizi, the acting minister of commerce and industry, said at the opening that such events are a good opportunity to introduce  industrial and production capacities of countries to foreign investors.

Azizi said the main objective of the current expo is to strengthen domestic markets, market products and expand the interaction of the countries of the region with the Islamic Emirate.

Yunus Momand, the deputy chairman of the Chamber of Commerce and Investment, said the expo was an opportunity to exchange experiences and introduce Afghan products to foreign traders.

The head of customs in Iran's South Khorasan province says transit from the province's borders to Afghanistan increased eightfold in the first six months of this year.

Mohammad Kohgard, the head of customs in Iran's South Khorasan province told state-run IRNA news agency on Monday that more than 15,000 containers weighing over 4,500 tons had been transported to Afghanistan from the Mahirood border in this time.

"This is eight times more than in the same period last year," Kohgard added.

He said the transit goods included consumer goods, sugar, flour, cooking oil and fertilizers from Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, Russia and Indonesia through Mahirood customs to Afghanistan.

Trade between Afghanistan and Pakistan has dropped off sharply this year, reaching its lowest levels in years, said officials from the joint chamber of commerce.

According to chamber officials, the reason for this is the closure of trade routes by Pakistan and administrative challenges regarding the export process of Afghanistan’s goods.

Trade relations between the two countries are also fractured, especially as the closure of trade routes in Pakistan has resulted in major financial losses for fresh produce traders on both sides of the border, officials said.

According to them, hundreds of trucks filled with fruit and vegetables from Afghanistan lost their cargo this year as their goods spoiled due to road closures.

Experts believe that Afghanistan should find new routes and markets for export goods - especially fresh produce, adding that it is clear Islamabad is not taking steps to resolve the issues.

Pakistan however claims Afghan exports dropped by 96 percent against last year and Pakistan exports to Afghanistan declined by 83 percent.

Pakistan’s The Nation reported Monday that this decrease was due to Pakistan’s anti-smuggling efforts and import restrictions.