The Kabul Tribune (KT) — The Taliban’s deputy governor in Helmand said the province is ready to expand economic cooperation and joint investment with Iran, adding that stronger trade ties would benefit both countries.
Rahimullah Mahmood made the remarks on Tuesday during a meeting on economic cooperation between Helmand Province and Iran’s South Khorasan Province.
He said Afghanistan is seeking to benefit from Iran’s experience in agriculture, industry, and mineral processing sectors.
Highlighting Helmand’s agricultural potential, Mahmood said the use of Iranian expertise in farm mechanization could improve the quality and competitiveness of Afghan products in regional and global markets.
He also called on Iranian investors and traders to invest in Afghanistan, saying coordination between business communities in both countries could strengthen economic and commercial cooperation.
Referring to Helmand’s mineral resources, he said the province holds valuable deposits, but limited technical capacity has prevented proper industrial extraction and processing.
He added that Iranian cooperation in technical training and the establishment of processing plants could increase the value of Afghanistan’s mineral products.
Mahmood further said that between 300 and 400 cargo trucks currently pass daily through border crossings between Afghanistan and Iran, noting that with improved infrastructure and customs facilities, this number could rise to between 800 and 1,000 trucks per day.
He stressed that the Taliban welcome expanded economic relations with Iran and view joint investment as beneficial for both nations.
