Business
IEA hoping to top $10 billion in trade volume with Iran over next few years
Acting Minister of Commerce and Industry says that they are trying to increase the volume of trade between Afghanistan and Iran to the value of $10 billion dollars in the next few years.
Nuruddin Azizi, who is part of the Afghanistan delegation in Iran, emphasized in a conversation with the Iranian media that both countries have the capacity to expand their economic relations and increase the volume of trade.
“Of course, the capacities that Afghanistan has and the capacities that are available in both countries, we want to increase Afghanistan’s trade up to $10 billion dollars in the next few years, as I said in my previous interviews, there is capacity on both sides, especially mineral resources, agriculture and industrial programs that we have in Afghanistan. Afghanistan has the ability to trade with Iran up to 10 billion dollars,” said Azizi.
At the same time, Mohammad Mehdi Jawanmard, an advisor to the Iranian president’s special envoy for Afghanistan, says that Iran wants to expand economic ties with Afghanistan. He also said that the culmination of the delegation’s visit to Iran will see both sides signing a number of memorandums of understanding to expand commercial and economic relations.
“Iran does not want to import raw natural resources from Afghanistan to Iran. We made this understanding with the Afghan side to the extent that it can be processed in Afghanistan and the final product transferred. We want to expand our commonalities and economic infrastructure, and they will visit different places during this trip, and finally the memorandums of understanding will be signed by Mr. Mullah Baradar (the IEA’s deputy prime minister of economic affairs) and Mr. Kazemi Qomi (Iran’s special envoy to Afghanistan),” said Mohammad Mehdi Jawanmard, an advisor to the Iranian president’s special envoy for Afghanistan.
Azizi meanwhile also emphasized the expansion of border cooperation between Iran and Afghanistan and added that in future they will try to establish a common border market between both countries so that the people of both sides can benefit from each other’s industry and skills without obtaining a visa.
On the other hand, the Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs, Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar and his accompanying delegation met with a number of Afghan businessmen and investors residing in Iran and assured them that the necessary facilities are available for them to come to Afghanistan and invest.
Pakistan’s kinno exports remain far below potential as regional tensions, high freight costs and weak government support continue to choke the citrus trade.
Despite being a leading global citrus producer, Pakistan is expected to export just 400,000–450,000 tonnes of kinno in the 2025–26 season, compared with an estimated capacity of 700,000–800,000 tonnes.
Exports in 2024–25 stood at around 350,000–400,000 tonnes, mainly to Russia, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Afghanistan, Indonesia and Central Asia. While better fruit quality this season has raised hopes, persistent crossing disruptions—especially with Afghanistan—and transport bottlenecks have offset gains.
Growers say prices have collapsed sharply, forcing panic sales. Rates for large kinno have fallen from over Rs120 per kg early in the season to as low as Rs75, while smaller fruit is selling for Rs35–40 per kg amid weak demand.
Industry leaders warn the crisis is crippling processing units and jobs. More than 100 factories reportedly failed to open this season, with dozens more shutting down as exports stall. Cold storages in Sargodha are nearly full, putting fruit worth millions of dollars at risk of spoilage, while growers fear losses of up to Rs10 billion.
Exporters are urging the government to urgently resolve issues, subsidise logistics, and help access alternative markets, warning that prolonged inaction could devastate farmers, workers and the wider economy.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has said that Tehran will facilitate trade and economic exchanges with Afghanistan, including easing procedures at customs and local marketplaces.
He made the remarks during a televised interview following his visit to South Khorasan province, which shares a border with Afghanistan.
Pezeshkian, in a separate event addressing local business leaders, highlighted the province’s strategic advantages, citing its rich mineral resources, proximity to neighboring countries such as Afghanistan and Pakistan, and access to the ocean via the Chabahar port. He described the region as “a golden opportunity not found everywhere,” emphasizing its potential for economic growth and cross-border commerce.
A Kazakh delegation led by the Deputy Minister of Finance of Kazakhstan met with Sediqullah Khalid, First Deputy Governor of Da Afghanistan Bank, to discuss ways of strengthening banking and economic cooperation between the two countries.
According to a statement issued by Da Afghanistan Bank, Khalid said the central bank is keen to establish regular and effective banking relations with Kazakhstan as part of broader efforts to expand bilateral trade.
He noted that enhanced banking cooperation would help facilitate trade, investment, and wider economic interaction between Afghanistan and Kazakhstan, while also contributing to financial stability at the regional level.
Members of the Kazakh delegation also emphasized the importance of developing banking and economic ties and expressed their readiness to expand joint cooperation.
The two sides further agreed to establish technical committees from both countries to hold expert-level discussions and advance practical steps for cooperation.
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