President Ashraf Ghani, who arrived in Zaranj city of Nimroz province today, inaugurated the first shipment loaded with 570 tons of Afghan goods, which will soon head to India through Chabahr port in southeastern Iran.
Ghani expressed hopes during a ceremony in Zaranj that country’s export will increase to $2bn in the next year from the current $1bn, as he inaugurated the economic route of Chabahar.
“Today, Nimroz is turning from a deprived province into a key province,” Ghani said as he depicted to the importance of Chabahar Port for Nimroz.
Ghani directed relevant institutions to start work on improving Nimroz from a third-grade province to a second-grade province.
He exclaimed the past incompetent leadership deprived country from growing in economy and world trade, therefore, government and other private sectors should work together.
Minister of Public Work Yamma Yari said the new transportation routes have paved the way for Afghan exports to increase by 30 percent. And now, at least 150 private companies have invested $50m to the Chabahar port, making it the first export of afghan goods loaded into 23 trucks that heads to India today.
Meanwhile, Indian ambassador Vinay Kumar said at the ceremony that Afghanistan’s exports to India have increased by 40 percent after the launch of air corridor between Kabul and New Delhi.
The geographic location of the Chabahar port has a great impact on the region, particularly connecting Afghanistan to Central Asian markets that promises an incredible increase on the country’s economy.
In May 2016, India, Iran, and Afghanistan signed an agreement to establish a trade and transit corridor, using Chabahar Port as the regional hub for sea transportation.
