Herat Boosts Exports via Iran and Central Asia as Pakistan Routes Close

Following the closure of commercial routes with Pakistan, transit routes through Iran and Central Asia have now become the main pathways for the export of Afghan goods, The Caspian Post reports, citing the TOLO News.

Officials say that recently, several batches of domestic products have been exported through these routes to the United States and Russia.

Younes Qazizadah, Head of the Herat Chamber of Commerce and Investment, said: "We export a large part of our products to European countries, the U.S., Gulf countries, Arab countries, and India. The Iran route is now our main export route, and some of our goods are also being sent to Central Asia and Russia via Turkmenistan."

Local authorities in Herat say that various local products, including carbonated beverages, are being exported daily to both nearby and distant countries.

Mohammad Naser Amin, Head of the Herat Chamber of Mines and Industries, said: "We have these export programs daily. Just yesterday, around 10 containers of food items were exported to various countries."

Bashir Mohammad Seerat, Head of Industry and Commerce in Herat, said: "The Islamic Emirate and all sectoral institutions related to trade and industry believe that Afghanistan must become self-reliant in terms of production."

Some exporters in Herat say that with the recent facilitation of domestic exports by the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, some locally made products are now being exported to the U.S. and European countries for the first time.

"Our first shipment of products is heading to the U.S., and God willing, we will also export to Europe and Germany," Behbood Qala-e-Nawi, the head of a manufacturing company in Herat, said.

Abdul Rafi Yousufi, another manufacturing company official, also said: "Our products, God willing, will be tested in laboratories in Europe and the U.S., and then shipped to those countries."

According to local officials, products from 110 factories in Herat’s industrial zone are being exported to dozens of countries. The Herat Chamber of Commerce and Investment reports that goods worth $60 million have been exported from Herat alone this year.