New delhi: India and Afghanistan explored ways to deepen trade, investment, and economic relations during the official visit paid by Afghan Minister of Industry and Commerce Alhaj Nooruddin Azizi to India from 19-25 November. The visit focused on enhancing bilateral ties and strengthening economic collaboration between the two nations.
According to Kuwait News Agency, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs stated that Azizi met with External Affairs Minister of India S. Jaishankar to discuss bilateral ties, connectivity, and people-to-people exchanges. The Afghan Minister also held delegation-level talks with Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal, covering a broad range of issues, including trade facilitation, market access, connectivity, and capacity-building.
The discussions led to the announcement of the initiation of the Air Freight Corridor on the Kabul-Delhi and Kabul-Amritsar sectors. Both ministers welcomed the reactivation of the Joint Working Group on Trade, Commerce, and Investment and agreed to explore opportunities for collaboration in mining and other high-value sectors.
Azizi also met Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Jitin Prasada. The Afghan team discussed modalities for the long-term supply of agricultural products, medicines, and other essential commodities to Afghanistan.
The Afghan delegation held meetings with several Indian industry bodies, including the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority, Cotton Textiles Export Promotion Council, Cotton Corporation of India, Apparel Export Promotion Council, Manmade and Technical Textiles Export Promotion Council, PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India, and Pharmaceutical Export Promotion Council of India.
India remains committed to working closely with Afghanistan to advance this economic partnership in a manner that brings sustainable benefits to the people of both countries.