Medical visas to India will resume soon, says Afghan minister

A commercial attache from Afghanistan is expected to arrive in India in a months time Afghan Commerce and Industry Minister Alhaj Nooruddin Azizi said on Monday and asserted that Kabul wants to boost bilateral trade to much more than USD 1 billionInteracting with reporters at the Afghan Embassy here Azizi said there is potential and strong will from both sides when it comes to private investment He also said that during his visit several issues like visas both for commerce and medical purposes air and land corridors for trade transit and the Chabahar port were discussedAzizi also spoke about the idea of opening additional trade routes with India possibly through Iran Pakistan or any other country He acknowledged that the AttariWagah border a significant trading point has been closed due to regional issues but reiterated Kabuls commitment to boost trade with New DelhiOn the visa front the Afghan minister said this issue has been resolved Businessmen who could earlier not travel for trade and commerce can now seek visas from the Indian Embassy in Kabul Medical visas will also resume it has been decided for Afghans to take the benefit of treatment at health facilities in IndiaIndia was the preferred destination for many Afghan patients for medical treatment until the Taliban took over in 2021 It was announced at the press conference that Afghanistan is also seeking a partnership in the private sector whereby a unit of a leading hospital group can be started in that country with staff from both countriesThe minister did not elaborate on it Azizi further said Afghanistan seeks to reduce nontariff fees to the lowest possible We plan to make it zero he added It was also decided during the visit the joint chamber of commerce will be reinforced to aid the private sectors on both sides On November 21 Azizi invited Indian businesses to invest in the landlocked nation promising a conducive environment to foster bilateral trade and boost economic cooperationHe outlined mining agriculture health and pharmaceuticals information technology energy and textiles as areas where significant opportunities exist for business engagement Azizi along with a highpowered delegation arrived in New Delhi last week on a fiveday visit During the media interaction Azizi was asked about his recent meetings with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Jitin Prasada and othersThe Afghan minister underlined the recent decision under which India and Afghanistan have decided to appoint dedicated commercial attaches in each others capitals to revitalise bilateral trade currently valued at over USD 1 billion The decision was taken during a bilateral meeting between Azizi and Prasada Afghanistans commercial attache is expected to arrive in New Delhi in a months time the visiting minister said He also said that Afghanistan wants to boost bilateral trade with India to much more than the current USD 1 billionSeeking investments in a range of sectors Azizi said earlier in the day that his government is ready to offer five years of tax breaks to firms investing in new sectors including gold mining At an interactive session organised by the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India ASSOCHAM Azizi said tensions with Pakistan are creating hurdles in tradeThere is a huge potential available in Afghanistan You will not find a lot of competitors You will also receive tariff support and we will be able to give you land The fiveyear tax exemption will be given to companies which may be interested in investing in new sectors he saidThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever