Cargo plane from Kandahar carries 40 tons of fruits to India

KANDAHAR (Pajhwok): Afghanistan exported 40 tons of different types of fruits to India in a second cargo flight from southern Kandahar province on Saturday, an official said.

In this regard a special ceremony was attended by Governor Zalmai Wesa, deputy chamber of commerce and industry head Haji Younus Momand, Indian Consulate General in Kandahar Narinder Pal Singh, provincial chamber of commerce and industry officials, provincial council members, traders and others.

Governor Wesa said the cargo plane from Kandahar to India was loaded with dried fruits and medical plants.

He said grapes, pomegranates and other fresh fruits would be also exported to India once the fresh fruits season arrived.

The governor said the Afghanistan-India air corridor that was inaugurated by President Ashraf Ghani few days ago was great news for Afghanistan, particularly for Kandahar, the center to fresh and dried fruits.

He said the air corridor would also help boost economic relations between the two countries. However, Wesa asked traders to be careful in packaging fruits and their quality and observe international standards.

Younus Momand told Pajhwok Afghan News the central government had been working from the past one year to open the Afghanistan-India air corridor.

The corridor could provide good opportunities for Afghan traders to develop their business and help boost the country’s economy, he added.

Kandahar deputy chamber of commerce and industry head, Eng. Abdul Baqi Bina, also said 40 tons of dried fruits and medicinal plants were exported though cargo planes to India today.

Kandahar orchard owners welcomed the Afghanistan-India air corridor and called it a great step for commence development.

On June 19, President Ashraf Ghani formally inaugurated the Afghanistan-India Air Corridor in the capital Kabul.

The aim of the air corridor was to develop commerce and economy and removing transit barriers between Afghanistan and India.

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