Afghan Traders Sign US $67 Million in Deals at Indian Trade Mission

New Delhi,

Afghan traders inked about $67 million (INR 460 crore) in signed and potential deals for Afghan high-value agricultural products as a result of their participation at a recent held Two day trade mission exhibition ‘Made in Afghanistan:Nature’s best’   in New Delhi.

A total of 49 Afghan exporters had exhibited at “Made in Afghanistan: Nature’s Best”  held on July 13-14, 2018 in New Delhi. As a result of USAID support, hundreds of Indian and  international buyers had the opportunity to learn about Afghanistan’s agricultural riches, including pomegranates, saffron, apples, apricots, melons, grapes, nuts and raisins.

In total, $27.3 million (INR 160 Crore) in confirmed deals were signed at the event by Indian buyers (a total of 5,200 metric tons). The three leading products comprised raisins (37.1%), saffron (17.5%) and apples (7.3%) . Other products included grapes, apricots, pomegranates, dried fruits and fruit juices. Potential deals totaled $39.4 million.

The event capitalized on the growing economic interconnection between Afghanistan and India. Last year, Afghan President Ghani implemented air cargo incentives that led to the first direct air shipments of Afghan produce into the Indian airports of New Delhi and Mumbai.

“With the new air corridor between India and Afghanistan, we need Afghan products in major volumes,” said Sudhir Suri, Chairman and Joint Managing Director of Suri AgroFresh. “We will reduce imports from other countries and create space for Afghan products in our auction areas.”

Agriculture is backbone of Afghanistan’s economy. Up to 80 percent of Afghans are dependent on farming, livestock or both, and agriculture comprises 25 percent of the country’s gross domestic product.

A collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock (MAIL) and the Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Industries (ACCI), the event was being organized by USAID’s Commercial Horticulture and Agricultural Marketing Program (CHAMP) a program implemented by Roots of Peace.Other USAID programs contributing to the event include Regional Agricultural Development Projects East and North and Promoting Value Chain – West.