Afghanistan-Russia Trade Declines Sharply

According to information from the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, trade between Afghanistan and Russia has seen a significant decline in the past ten months compared to the previous year.

The ministry stated that in the past ten months, trade with Russia amounted to $220 million, whereas this figure had exceeded $322 million in the same period last year.

During this time, Afghanistan exported goods worth $3 million to Russia while importing $217 million worth of goods from Russia.

“Afghanistan’s trade with Russia in the first ten months of 1403 [Islamic calendar year] amounted to $220 million, of which $3 million were exports and $217 million were imports,” Akhundzada Abdul Salam Jawad, the spokesperson for the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, told media.

Meanwhile, the Chamber of Commerce and Investment has emphasized resolving trade-related challenges between Afghanistan and Russia to strengthen commercial ties.

“The Islamic Emirate and the Chamber of Commerce and Investment are working to resolve agreements, transit, and transportation issues so that we can directly transport our export goods, especially Afghanistan’s fresh and dried fruits, to the Russian market, particularly to Moscow,” said Mirzaman Popal, the acting head of administration and finance at the Chamber of Commerce and Investment.

Some traders also urge the Islamic Emirate to address trade-related challenges with Russia.

“We urge the leadership of both countries to work on enhancing imports and exports, as this can bring greater stability to the people of both nations, “said Omid Haidari, a businessman.

According to the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, Afghanistan’s exports to Russia in the past ten months included raisins, minerals, dried apricots, and pressure cookers, while imports from Russia consisted of petroleum products, flour, raw materials for factories, and oil.