Tehran-Kabul Trade and Custom Cooperation Accelerated
IRAN NEWS ECONOMIC DESK
TEHRAN – Iran and Kabul accelerated their co-operations on customs and trade after the meeting between Head of Islamic Republic of Iran Customs Administration (IRICA) Mehdi Mir-Ashrafi and Deputy Finance Minister of Afghanistan Mohammad Isa Ghodrat in Tehran.
During the meeting, Mir-Ashrafi pointed to the cultural commonalities of both states, saying that both countries should take advantage of these commonalities to expand trade and to strengthen bilateral economic relations.
He added that according to the pervious slogan of the World Customs Organization, “borders divide and customs link countries” and both countries should move in this direction for expanding their trade.
Mir-Ashrafi also pointed to the comprehensive trade cooperation document between both states which is on verge of being drawn up, adding that it is expected co-operations on customs to be more colorful in the document and operationalization of the document is seriously on the agenda.
He added that the shipment of wheat cargo from India to Afghanistan via Chabahar Port Customs and Iran’s non-stop efforts for this shipment is one of the good examples of bilateral cooperation on custom affairs in the transit field. He expressed hope that the ground is paved for boosting the volume of transit.
He also pointed to the necessity of electronization of custom system and e-trade trade and announced Iran’s readiness for transfer of its experience to Afghanistan on the customs affairs and expressed hope the joint custom cooperation either in the administrative or joint border custom checkpoints would continue.
Meanwhile Afghan deputy minister Isa Ghodrat, for his part, expressed his satisfaction over this meeting, announcing Afghanistan’s readiness for electronizing custom activities and exchange of information with Iran’s customs administration.
He added that Afghanistan tries to take advantage of export capabilities of both states which helps bilateral trade to increase, adding that observing all standards regarding the export goods can help this to materialize.
He also called for setting up of a joint work group for studying ways for boosting trade and custom cooperation between both states.
Isa Ghodrat added that launching a joint trade gate based on custom process can accelerate transit of goods in the borders.
