New Agreements to Expand Trade, Investment Between Afghanistan, Türkiye
A delegation of 33 businesspeople and investors from Balkh Province, led by the head of the Balkh Chamber of Commerce and Investment, traveled to Türkiye about two weeks ago.
During meetings with business leaders and investors in the cities of Konya and Istanbul, the delegation discussed expanding economic cooperation, identifying new investment opportunities, and strengthening trade relations between Afghanistan and Türkiye.
According to officials from the Balkh Chamber of Commerce and Investment, the visit resulted in the signing of cooperation agreements worth more than $100 million.
Mohammad Ibrahim Ghazanfar, head of the Balkh Chamber of Commerce and Investment, said: “Approximately $100 million worth of agreements were signed across various sectors. These include industry, factory development, the supply of goods needed by Afghanistan, and the export of products required by the Turkish market.”
Several members of the delegation described the visit as highly successful, saying Turkish business leaders expressed strong interest in investing in Afghanistan, particularly in Balkh Province. According to them, a delegation of Turkish investors and businesspeople is expected to visit Balkh soon to explore investment opportunities and finalize cooperation agreements.
Businessman Zabihullah Kahmardi said: “Turkish businesspeople are very interested in investing in Afghanistan, especially in establishing factories, because raw materials are less expensive here than processed products. For this reason, they are particularly interested in investing in northern Afghanistan.”
Another businessman, Dawlat Khan Mufakir, said: “During our visit to Istanbul, we invited several Turkish businesspeople to Afghanistan so they can hold face-to-face meetings with Afghan traders, particularly in Balkh, and pave the way for broader cooperation.”
Economic experts also emphasize the importance of expanding and effectively managing economic ties between Afghanistan and Türkiye. They describe Türkiye as a key regional hub for trade and transit and stress the importance of benefiting from the country’s industrial expertise, commercial capacity, and investment potential to strengthen domestic production and support Afghanistan’s economic growth.
Economic analyst Qutbuddin Yaqoubi said: “As one of the region’s major trade and transit centers, Türkiye can become an important economic partner for Afghanistan. Drawing on the experience and resources of Turkish businesses to invest in economic infrastructure, while exporting Afghan agricultural products to the Turkish market, would benefit both countries.”
As trade relations with Pakistan have become more limited and several border crossings have been closed, Afghanistan is seeking to expand alternative trade routes with countries in the region. Previously, Afghanistan signed economic cooperation agreements with Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, China, Russia, and Iran.
