Afghanistan Importing Far More Than It Exports

Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty

March 10, 2009

KABUL -- Afghanistan's Chamber of Commerce president says that general trade turnover in the country has reached $6 billion.

Talking to RFE/RL's Radio Free Afghanistan (RFA), Mohammad Qurban Haqjoo said that Afghanistan's imports far outweigh the country's exports, as the country has some $5 billion in imports.

Haqjoo said that since 2003, exports in Afghanistan have increased fivefold to reach $500 million in 2008.

He added that China remains the major importer to Afghanistan. The country exports rugs, gems, handicrafts, and dry and fresh fruits. It imports food, machines, clothes, autos, oil, and gas, mostly from its neighbors.