Afghanistan to open business consulates in Amritsar, Kolkata

Neeraj Bagga

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, August 27

Ambassador of Afghanistan Shaida Mohammad Abdali has announced that his country will open business consulates in Amritsar and Kolkata with an aim to revive trade ties with India.

At a session on investment opportunities in Afghanistan, he said Afghanistan shared historic business, cultural and political ties with various parts of India. Historically strong business ties were shared between Afghanistan and Punjab in general and Amritsar, in particular, he said. The interactive session was organised by the Federation of Indian Export Organisation.

To revive trade ties, his government proposed to connect Afghan province Kunduz with Punjab for exchange of agricultural know-how, technology etc. He said both states shared resemblances in being agri-based economies and having similar weather conditions.

He said India and Afghanistan signed a preferential tariff agreement in 2003 to promote bilateral trade, However, trade and investment had not been of the desired level despite the agreement. The trade was between $568 to 684 million over the past few years, with India’s exports amounting to $422 million in 2014-15 and imports $262 million.

Items such as manmade fibre, apparel, pharma, gems and jewellery, tobacco, dairy products etc account for over 90 per cent of India’s exports. Items such as fruits and dry fruits, lac, gum resin account for 95 per cent of total imports from Afghanistan.

On the reason for low bilateral trade, he said it was mainly due to the absence of direct trade link between India and Afghanistan through Pakistan. At present, the consignments under bilateral trade first reach Chabahar seaport in Southeastern Iran and then the Attari-Wagah joint check-post.