February 1, 2016  – TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iranian Deputy Minister of Industry, Mines, and Trade Mojtaba Khosrotaj described the lucrative market of neighboring Afghanistan as a “strategic” market for Iranian merchants.
Khosrotaj on Monday pointed to Iran’s upcoming exclusive exhibition in the Afghan capital of Kabul, and said such expos are venues to hold dialogue with foreign countries and present the Islamic Republic’s capabilities in various economic areas.

Iran’s exclusive exhibition is slated to open in Kabul on March 1, 2016 and last until March 4.

“The presence of numerous Afghans in Iran and their familiarity with the Iranian culture and products make them better marketing individuals for the products in Afghanistan than anyone else,” he said.

“Although Afghanistan is not considered a new market, presence in the market is strategic for Iran because we can have economic activities there in the long term,” the deputy minister added.

Back in April 2015, Iran and Afghanistan signed two cooperation agreements as part of efforts to boost relations between the two neighbors in various areas.

In a ceremony attended by Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and his Afghan counterpart Ashraf Ghani, high-ranking officials from the two countries singed the documents.

In 2009, Iran was one of the largest investors in Afghanistan mainly in the construction of roads and bridges as well as agriculture and health care.