Sunday, August 9th, 2026
A joint meeting between the leadership of the Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Investment (ACCI) and the Director General of Kabul International Airport was held to discuss the challenges faced by exporters of fresh and dried fruits and explore practical solutions to facilitate their export activities.
The meeting was attended by deputies and members of the ACCI Board of Directors, representatives of companies engaged in fresh and dried fruit exports, and relevant government officials.
At the outset, Mr. Mirajan Sulaimankhel, Deputy of the ACCI Board of Directors for Policy and Government Relations, highlighted the existing challenges facing fresh and dried fruit exporters and outlined the major issues in detail.
He stated that previously, Kam Air, Ariana Afghan Airlines, and Turkish Airlines transported Afghan export products to India at a rate of approximately USD 0.80 per kilogram. However, air freight costs have increased significantly, resulting in a considerable rise in export expenses.
Mr. Sulaimankhel further noted that other issues discussed during the meeting included insufficient scanners, challenges related to hangars and standard storage facilities for handling and storing export goods, problems concerning air waybills, as well as inspection and sampling procedures.
The Deputy of the ACCI Board of Directors for Policy and Government Relations called on the Director General of Kabul International Airport to provide the necessary cooperation and attention to resolving these challenges and to take practical measures to facilitate the export process.
Subsequently, Mr. Abdul Hadi Mohammad, Director General of Kabul International Airport, emphasized the importance of exports and the role of traders and exporters in the economic growth and development of the country. He addressed the challenges raised during the meeting and assured participants that the necessary cooperation would be provided to address the existing concerns.
He further stated that special discounts have been considered on fees and other services provided by the Kabul airport authorities and relevant agencies operating within the airport, and that a significant reduction in service-related costs would be introduced in the near future.
He also stated that foreign cargo airlines operating and conducting flights in Afghanistan would be permitted to transport Afghan export consignments to third countries. This would allow such airlines, in addition to transporting cargo to their countries of origin, to carry Afghan export shipments to other destination countries.
The Director General of Kabul International Airport also announced that a new cargo company would begin operations in the near future, which would help address some of the existing challenges related to transportation and exports.
Mr. Abdul Hadi Mohammad further assured participants that fresh and dried fruit exports would be given priority and that the necessary cooperation would be provided to exporters. He also pledged support for expediting customs procedures and emphasized the provision of 24-hour services.
At the conclusion of the meeting, both sides emphasized the need for greater cooperation and coordination among ACCI, airport authorities, and relevant government agencies. They agreed to work jointly to address the challenges faced by exporters and facilitate the export of fresh and dried fruits.
