US sanctions on Iran disrupt Afghanistan trade through Chabahar port

KABUL (TCA) — Officials from Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Industries (ACCI) said that US sanctions on Iran are one of the key challenges which threaten economic and trade activities through the Iranian port of Chabahar, Afghan broadcaster TOLOnews reported.

At least 50 containers of Afghan goods are ready to be exported through Chabahar Port to Indian and Chinese markets, but the export of the goods has been disrupted due to problems in money transactions, the ACCI deputy chief Khan Jan Alokozay told TOLOnews on May 14.

Indian and Afghan banks are not able to transfer money through the port, he said.

“The US treasury should permit the World Bank and IMF so that we can open the letter of credits,” said Alokozay.

“The Afghan and Indian governments are trying to find a solution to the issue so that we can remove the problems facing investors and the banking issue regarding Chabahar port with consideration of the fact that it is an issue between Iran, Afghanistan and India,” said Sameer Rasa, head of the Office of the Senior Advisor to the Afghan President in Banking and Finance.

Officials from the Afghan Ministry of Industry and Commerce said that the Afghan and Indian governments are trying to find a solution to the problem.

Sergey Kwan

TCA

Sergey Kwan has worked for The Times of Central Asia as a journalist, translator and editor since its foundation in March 1999. Prior to this, from 1996-1997, he worked as a translator at The Kyrgyzstan Chronicle, and from 1997-1999, as a translator at The Central Asian Post.
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Kwan studied at the Bishkek Polytechnic Institute from 1990-1994, before completing his training in print journalism in Denmark.

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