Traders from Afghanistan who attended the Iran Expo 2025 showed interest in increasing trade between Afghanistan and India, as they urged the governments to create facilities for traders from both countries.
Speaking on the current state of trade relations, Abdulkadim Tayyab, a trader, said, “We have come from Afghanistan. Earlier we used to have good trade. Now the Wagah border is closed.”
Tayyab highlighted the potential of the Chabahar border for trade between the two countries.
Tayyab told ANI, “The Chabahar border is good for the trade of Afghanistan and India. We want to promote trade between Afghanistan and India. Also, we want both governments to create facilities for traders from Afghanistan and India.”
Furthermore, another trader highlighted the difficulties faced by Afghan traders due to the closure of major borders with Pakistan.
An Indian trader who attended the event said, “The India-Pakistan border has been closed for Afghanistan trade. Torkham border and Chaman border have been closed. So now it is a big problem for Afghan traders, who export dry fruits, perishable fruits and other items to India, Dubai and other countries.
” He added, “We request that trade be facilitated through shipments via Chabahar, which is very close to Kabul. Also, shipments can be taken from Chabahar, which is the nearest port to the Indian borders.”
Notably, Iran Expo 2025 was attended by over 3,100 international traders from 111 countries. The release said the event showcased the extraordinary synergy between government and private sector efforts to develop non-oil exports. It further added that the exhibition witnessed a significant growth from the attendance of 2,400 traders from 94 countries last year.
The interest from domestic companies was unprecedented, with over 1,200 top export-oriented firms registering across six product categories.