Engineer Abdul Baqi Bina, Deputy of Kandahar Chamber of Commerce and Investment, said that various goods worth 331 million US dollars were exported to foreign countries in 1401.
Bina added that in spite of drought and other problems, 353 thousand tons of fresh and dry fruits, minerals, medicinal plants and other various goods were exported from Kandahar, which is more than the previous year.
According to Bina, most of these exports have carried out to Pakistan, India, United Arab Emirates and some European countries.
Bina added: “In general, our exports in the 12 months of 1401 reach 353 thousand tons, 143988 tons of which are fresh fruit, 55153 tons are dried fruit, 70580 tons are minerals and the rest is cereals and medicinal plants.”
According to him, the drought, the closure of the port by Pakistan at the time of fresh fruit harvest, banking restrictions, not issuing of visas to traders and other problems had created obstacles to exports last year.
Moreover, he said that banking restrictions and the lack of an air corridor are still major obstacles to business.
He added: “Our hope is to find foreign markets and inaugurate another market for our dry and fresh fruits, so our export level will increase further. Another issue is that our banking system for exports is not ready the way it is needed. The banking system should be prepared so that when we export, our money reaches its address very easily.”
Last year, Pakistan closed the port during the fresh fruit season like other years and also increased the tax manifold, but the problems were solved after a while.
Fresh fruit traders in Kandahar want the government to discuss this issue with Pakistan in advance.
The Ministry of Economy also conceded that goods worth two billion dollars were exported from the whole country in 1401, which shows a multiple increase compared to other years.
