Chambers of Commerce of Iran and Afghanistan signed a seven-article cooperation agreement on Wednesday.
The agreement was signed in the first joint webinar of the two chambers after Taliban takeover in Afghanistan.
Presidents of chambers of commerce of both countries, a number of heads of local Iranian chambers and a large number of Afghan businesspersons were present at the webinar.
Speaking during the event, Gholam Hossein Shafei, the President of Iran Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines, and Agriculture (ICCIMA), voiced Iran’s readiness to contribute to Afghanistan’s growth and development.
Shafei said that Iran understands the current sensitive situation in Afghanistan and is ready to take steps to help Afghanistan in the new chapter of its trade life.
Noting that Iran has been one of the main suppliers of Afghanistan’s needs over the past decade, he said that some areas for cooperation such as mining have been neglected which need to be paid due attention.
The Iran Chamber chief offered some proposals for expansion of trade between the two countries including an offer for resuming negotiations on preferential trade between the two countries.
In the meantime, Tawakal Ahmadyar, the President of Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Investment, welcomed the proposals by his Iranian counterpart.
The Afghan Chamber of Commerce used to have some problems for establishment of Afghanistan-Iran Joint Chamber of Commerce, Ahmadyar said, noting that the problems have been removed and the Afghan Chamber is ready to set up the joint chamber and introduce its board members.
The map shows the location of main border crossings between Iran and Afghanistan.
In the end of the meeting, the two sides signed an agreement which included the following measures to be taken:
1. Formation of an Afghanistan-Iran Joint Chamber of Commerce by Afghanistan and introducing the proposed board members of the chamber.
2. Setting up a committee for investment, and technical and engineering services.
3. Pursuing the signing of a Preferential Tariff Agreement between Iran and Afghanistan through the relevant ministries of the two sides.
4. Facilitating visa issuance for economic activists who are member to the Chambers of Commerce of Iran or Afghanistan.
5. Increase of bordering cooperation with signing cooperation agreements between Iranian border chambers in Birjand, Zahedan, and Mashhad with their mirror chambers in Herrat, Nimruz and Farah.
6. Establishment of a committee for mining cooperation.
7. Establishment of a joint committee for cooperation in energy areas, including, oil, gas, petrochemicals, and electricity.