|
The Commerce Minister of Afghanistan, Mr. Hidayat Amin Arsala, who met the Union Commerce & Industry Minister, Shri Kamal Nath, here this afternoon, has invited Indian companies to invest in Afghanistan. During discussions with Shri Kamal Nath, he also underlined the importance of Afghanistan as a gateway to Central Asia.
Both the Ministers noted the big increase in two-way trade between India and Afghanistan in recent years, which has increased from US $ 42 million in 2001-02 to US $ 186 million in 2003-04. Mr. Arsala said there should be closer contact between traders and businessmen of the two countries so as to further enhance the growth of bilateral trade in a balanced manner. Shri Kamal Nath, in response, said that the possibility of business delegations to Afghanistan being organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI) could be explored. He also suggested that apart from traditional areas, the non-traditional sectors of trade should be tapped. The Afghan Minister indicated that he was scheduled to meet the apex chambers later today.
Both sides recalled the long history of friendship between India and Afghanistan and the intensified new level of trade cooperation. While India’s exports to Afghanistan have risen from US $ 24 million to US $ 145 million, imports from Afghanistan – mainly fruits – rose from US $ 18 million to US $ 41 million during 2003-04.
SB/MRS
|
