India and Afghanistan have discussed measures to facilitate bilateral trade and strengthen economic cooperation during a virtual meeting of the India-Afghanistan Joint Working Group (JWG) on Trade, Commerce and Investment, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry said.
The meeting, held on September 1, was attended by officials from both countries, including representatives from commerce and industry, customs, regulatory authorities and diplomatic missions.
The discussions focused on removing trade-related bottlenecks and strengthening commercial ties between the two countries. Key issues included customs and trade facilitation, visa arrangements for Afghan traders, banking and financial cooperation, pharmaceutical and agricultural trade, energy cooperation, investment promotion, tariff concessions, cargo connectivity and port-related matters.
India and Afghanistan agreed to enhance institutional cooperation and take follow-up measures in several areas. These include greater customs and data-sharing cooperation, improved regulatory coordination in pharmaceuticals and agriculture, better trade connectivity and efforts to promote investment and business-to-business engagement.
The meeting was described as being held in a “warm and constructive atmosphere”, with both sides reaffirming their commitment to strengthening bilateral trade, commerce and investment ties.
The two countries also agreed to maintain continued engagement and follow up on the issues discussed during the meeting.
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