BILATERAL trade between India and Afghanistan is expected to more than double to reach US$2 billion by 2020 with the opening of the air cargo route between the two countries, reports the Press Trust of India.
'The bilateral trade between India and Afghanistan is $900 million and with an opening of air corridor our target to take it to $2 billion by 2020,' said the Afghan ambassador to India, Sahida Mohammad Abdali.
India-Afghanistan has opened up two direct air cargo routes linking New Delhi and Mumbai to Kabul. The Kabul-Mumbai route was opened up last year, said the PTI report.
Since starting of Kabul-New Delhi air corridor in mid-June 2017 followed by second air corridor between Kabul-Mumbai in December 2017 more than 100 Flights have been conducted between the two countries and transported 2,500 tonnes of goods.
'We want more and more flights, but landing during night hours is not allowed. These are small issues that will be resolved over time as plans to establish an air corridor connection with more Indian cities,' said Ajmal Ahmadi, economic advisor to Afghan President Ashraf Ghan.
Mr Ahmadi said that Afghanistan has opened up its power, pharmaceutical, optical cable manufacturing and other sectors by allowing 100 per cent foreign direct investment.
'Afghanistan still considers India as the largest market for agriculture and craft products. During the last three years, Kabul exported about 10,200 tonnes to India,' he said.
'In last one year alone, it went up to 2,500 tonnes and this year we expect it to reach 5,000 metric tonnes,' he said.
Indian firm Generous Treasures and Afghanistan Red Gold Saffron recently signed a deal to form a joint-venture firm with equal investments to sell 2.5 tonnes of saffron during the crop, said the report.
'The bilateral trade between India and Afghanistan is $900 million and with an opening of air corridor our target to take it to $2 billion by 2020,' said the Afghan ambassador to India, Sahida Mohammad Abdali.
India-Afghanistan has opened up two direct air cargo routes linking New Delhi and Mumbai to Kabul. The Kabul-Mumbai route was opened up last year, said the PTI report.
Since starting of Kabul-New Delhi air corridor in mid-June 2017 followed by second air corridor between Kabul-Mumbai in December 2017 more than 100 Flights have been conducted between the two countries and transported 2,500 tonnes of goods.
'We want more and more flights, but landing during night hours is not allowed. These are small issues that will be resolved over time as plans to establish an air corridor connection with more Indian cities,' said Ajmal Ahmadi, economic advisor to Afghan President Ashraf Ghan.
Mr Ahmadi said that Afghanistan has opened up its power, pharmaceutical, optical cable manufacturing and other sectors by allowing 100 per cent foreign direct investment.
'Afghanistan still considers India as the largest market for agriculture and craft products. During the last three years, Kabul exported about 10,200 tonnes to India,' he said.
'In last one year alone, it went up to 2,500 tonnes and this year we expect it to reach 5,000 metric tonnes,' he said.
Indian firm Generous Treasures and Afghanistan Red Gold Saffron recently signed a deal to form a joint-venture firm with equal investments to sell 2.5 tonnes of saffron during the crop, said the report.