Indo-Afghan trade can be doubled, says FICCI

India and mineral-rich Afghanistan have scope to double their two-way trade to $1 billion (Rs 4400 crore) by 2011-12, says a FICCI study.

India and mineral-rich Afghanistan have scope to double their two-way trade to $1 billion (Rs 4400 crore) by 2011-12, says a FICCI study.

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The study said the scope of coverage of India-Afghanistan trade relations would be greater under South Asia Free Trade Agreement (SAFTA) than under their existing bilateral Preferential Trade Agreement.

“Both India and Afghanistan should cooperate to derive mutual trade benefits under the SAFTA process,” it said adding “if the opportunities are exploited to the hilt, the trade could double from $520 million in 2008-09 to $ 1 billion in
2011-12.”

Afghanistan needs to be considered as a strategic economic partner of India in the South Asian region, it said.