Afghanistan seeks Indian investments in agri sector
The Dollar Business Bureau
Underlining that Afghanistan’s farm production and exports have been on a growth trajectory, Afghanistan on Tuesday invited Indian businesses to invest in the country’s agriculture sector and emphasised that it offers vast opportunities in its manufacturing, marketing, packaging and processing of farm products.
"Rebuilding trade relationships and expanding export markets for Afghan products are critical for Afghanistan’s job creation, capital flows and overall stability," said Abdul Qadeer Jawad, Afghanistan’s Deputy Minister for Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock.
The Minister pointed out that Afghanistan is committed to producing agri-products in line with WTO norms. The country will become the 164th official member of the WTO on July 29. “Afghanistan is looking for potential investors in the areas of agriculture manufacturing and processing, packaging, trading and marketing,” he said.
India-Afghanistan bilateral trade stood at $684 million in 2014-15. Its exports to Afghanistan were $422 million while imports were about $262 million in 2014-15.
"We export dry fruits, fresh fruits and carpets among others to India. Afghanistan’s agri exports could rise by 10% this year,” Jawad said.
Afghanistan’s top export destinations are Pakistan, India, China, Iran and Turkey.
India had recently signed the Chabahar agreement with Iran. The transit, which will pass through Afghanistan, will be a game changer for the country’s economic outlook.
