The Ministry of Industry and Commerce has announced that a delegation from Iran, during a meeting with the acting minister, proposed an investment in establishing a special joint mineral economic zone between the two countries.

According to Akhundzada Abdul Salam Jawad, the spokesperson for the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, the delegation also discussed the establishment of iron processing factories, the development of railways, and road construction in the country, during their meeting with Nooruddin Azizi.

The spokesperson for the Ministry of Energy and Water said: “The acting Minister of Industry and Commerce, emphasizing that the Economic Deputy of the Prime Minister’s Office and this ministry will provide more facilities and ease for investment, declared their readiness to cooperate with the Iranian delegation while considering the country’s interests, and introduced a technical team for further discussions.”

Meanwhile, some economic experts said the creation of joint economic zones between Afghanistan and Iran are significant in expanding the economic and trade relations between the two countries.

Mohammad Nabi Afghan, an expert on economic issues, stated: “Iran is a large industrial country, and we can continue joint trade with them because we can trade through Iran to Europe, the Middle East, and through Chabahar to India, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh.”

Abdul Nasir Reshtia, another expert on economic issues, said: “Iran is a neighboring and strategic trade partner of Afghanistan. I think if these relations are further strengthened through the establishment of such zones, they will attract investments in Afghanistan. Without a doubt, this will help us in creating jobs and fostering economic growth.”

Currently, Iran has already invested in Afghanistan’s mining sector, particularly in the Ghorian mine in Herat, and is considered one of Afghanistan’s major trade partners, with annual imports from Iran amounting to approximately two billion dollars.