Cross-border trade given boost

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DUSHANBE – Tajikistan and Afghanistan have renewed efforts to expand cross-border trade. Simplified border crossing procedures and an increase in trading days were the main items on the agenda of a national forum held at the end of November in Dushanbe.

According to Deputy President of the Tajik Chamber of Commerce and Industry Asanali Karamaliev, the conference “Bilateral regional trade between Tajikistan and Afghanistan: the current situation, problems and the potential for economic development,” generated considerable discussion.

Delegates at the forum included representatives of Tajik and Afghan state institutions and international organisations who voiced support for an increase in the number of days allowed for trading in both countries, the development of infrastructure for the storage of produce and an increase in the number of markets open to cross border-trade. Cross-border trade between Tajikistan and its neighbouring countries Kyrgyzstan and Afghanistan began in 2000. Traders from these countries are currently allowed to import goods up to $1,000 [USD] in value and are exempt from paying tax and customs duty. Trade is permitted once a week in four border districts.

Afghan delegates proposed that Tajikistan lift restrictions on their citizens crossing the Tajik border on trading days and requested an expansion of the list of goods they can import.

Afghans without any personal identification, however, have caused a headache for Tajik border guards who also have the responsibility of ensuring that banned substances such as drugs and precursor chemicals do not cross the border.

Despite that concern, it was generally agreed that the simplification of border crossing procedures will increase the volume of trade between the two countries to the benefit of local populations on both sides of the border. According to figures released by the Tajik State Committee for Statistics, the volume of trade between Tajikistan and Afghanistan between January and October this year totalled $81.4 million, which is three times more than the figure for the same period last year.