Iran-Afghanistan trade balance hit $2.4bn

Iran and Afghanistan have considerably increased the volume of their trade transactions, trade officials said, adding that the two countries also plan to establish a joint company in Chabahar Free Trade Zone in Southern Iran. "The value of Iran's trade transactions with Afghanistan has hit $2.4 billion and 90 percent of that is from Sistan and Balouchestan province," Head of Sistan and Balouchestan Industries, Mines and Trade Organization Nader Mirshekar said in a meeting with Iran's Commercial Attaché in Afghanistan Mohammad Mehdi Javanmard on Tuesday. The Iranian commercial attaché, for his part, said that Tehran and Kabul are planning to set up a joint company in Chabahar Free Zone. "We are looking for the establishment of a joint company with Afghanistan in Chabahar for exports and imports," Javanmard said. Iran is one of the most important donors to Afghanistan, which has kept its promises to help to the reconstruction of the war-ravaged country. Iran has built several roads, power transmission lines, border stations and many other infrastructure projects to better link the two nations. Iran has also contributed more than $50mln annually to Afghan anti-narcotics efforts during the last five years.