Iran, Afghanistan seek to deepen economic ties at Birjand forum
Iran and Afghanistan took steps to deepen their trade and investment cooperation at a joint forum in the eastern Iranian city of Birjand, seen as a milestone in shaping the future of trade in eastern Iran.
The Iran-Afghanistan joint cooperation development forum marked South Khorasan Province’s first major experience hosting a regional trade gathering, focusing on facilitating commercial exchanges, removing trade barriers, and promoting the transfer of technical knowledge, IRNA reported.
Addressing the meeting, Mohammadreza Bahraman, first vice president of Iran’s Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines, and Agriculture, called for a “25-year strategic vision” toward regional integration, saying long-term planning to 2050 was essential for sustainable development.
He said South Khorasan, endowed with valuable natural resources and rare minerals, could become a major economic hub linking Iran and Afghanistan if properly utilized. “The geological structures of Iran and Afghanistan share many similarities, which can pave the way for deeper cooperation, especially in mining and exploration projects,” Bahraman added.
Afghanistan ensures safety
At the conference, Noor Mohammad Mutawakkil, Afghanistan’s consul general in Mashhad, said his country was ready to strengthen joint investment and trade initiatives within a framework of friendly relations with Iran. “Afghanistan has adopted a balanced, economy-focused policy and stands ready to offer comprehensive support and facilities to traders and investors around the clock,” he said, emphasizing the country’s improved security environment.
He also noted that exhibitions offer valuable opportunities for producers and investors to present their products and foster partnerships, adding that Afghanistan seeks to expand its long-standing ties with Iran.
Meanwhile, Mehdi Doosti, Iran’s deputy interior minister for economic coordination and regional development, said the Interior Ministry is pursuing extensive plans to enhance economic cooperation with 15 neighboring countries and 10 nearby states, including Afghanistan and China. The initiative, he said, aims to boost exports, address trade imbalances, and expand agricultural and industrial capacities.
He pointed out that Iran imports more than 27 million tons of agricultural products annually, stressing the private sector must play a greater role in regional markets such as Afghanistan.
On the sidelines of the forum, the first Iran-Afghanistan joint trade and investment opportunities exhibition also opened in Birjand on Saturday. The four-day event hosts 111 participants — 30% in the mining sector, 16% in construction, and the rest in other sectors — with 70% of exhibitors from South Khorasan and 30% from other provinces.
Organizers said the event provides a key platform to showcase Iran and Afghanistan’s economic capacities and explore new partnerships in mining, agriculture, commerce, and emerging technologies.