KABUL: (MEP) – As many as 53 tons of fresh and dried fruits worth USD 59mn have been exported from southern Kandahar province to foreign countries this year, compared with last year’s 46 tons of exports worth USD 56mn.
The 30 percent increase in exports is linked to improvement in packaging and higher demand for Afghan fruits in foreign countries.
The figure is exported to rise further in the remaining three months of the fiscal year.
However, Afghan traders are faced with various challenges that hinder exports.
Kandahar Chamber of Commerce Deputy Head Eng. Abdul Baqi Beena said absence of cargo planes hamper growth of Afghanistan’s dried fruits exports that have a good market value in many Western countries.
Some traders called on the government to resolve the transit issues with Pakistan.
Afghan traders still rely on Pakistani routes for exporting their goods, where they are regularly faced with problems.
Chabahar Port is perceived to be the best alternative to the Pakistan’s Karachi Port, where export activities are constantly interrupted by political restrictions and high storage cost. However, traders claimed that not much had been done to improve trade activities at Chabahar Port.
Kandahar has witnessed significant increases in its fruits exports despite the challenges. Kandahar has also been one of the main producers of onion this year.
