Union Minister Piyush Goyal met Afghanistan’s Commerce Minister Alhaj Nooruddin Azizi.
Afghanistan’s Commerce and Industry Minister Alhaj Nooruddin Azizi claimed on Monday that the visa issue has been resolved. He said that businessmen who were earlier unable to travel for business and commerce can now obtain visas from the Indian Embassy in Kabul. It has been decided that medical visas will also be resumed for Afghans to avail health facilities in India. India was the preferred destination for medical treatment for many Afghan patients until the Taliban came to power in 2021.
Let us tell you that Union Minister Piyush Goyal met Afghanistan’s Industry and Commerce Minister Alhaj Nooruddin Azizi on Monday and discussed increasing economic cooperation between the two countries and increasing bilateral trade. Sharing pictures of the meeting on Twitter, Piyush Goyal wrote that he met Afghanistan’s Industry and Commerce Minister Alhaj Nooruddin Azizi today.
Resolve to strengthen people-to-people ties
During the discussion, the Union Minister said, our discussions reflected a common commitment to enhance economic cooperation and expand bilateral trade by facilitating easy movement of goods and investments. We reaffirmed our resolve to deepen our mutually beneficial partnership and further strengthen people-to-people ties. The Afghan minister was on a five-day visit to the country. Earlier in the day, Azizi met officials of the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM).
Call for improving relations with India
During the meeting, he said that the visit was to enhance bilateral economic cooperation and historical ties with India, and also called for further improving relations with India. He also addressed a press conference, saying that Kabul is keen to expand its economic engagement with India and develop new trade routes.
‘Our political relations are also very good’
Azizi said that it is a matter of great pleasure for him to see India and Afghanistan working together again. Referring to the historical relations between the two countries, he said, it is not only in the field of trade, but our political relations with them are also very good. Now we are exploring possibilities in the fields of politics, business and investment.
He further said that the visit was facilitated by the foreign ministries of both the countries and Kabul is exploring opportunities in sectors such as mining, agriculture, health and investment. The minister said that both sides are aiming to take bilateral trade to about one billion dollars with keen interest from the private sector.