The Ministry of Industry and Commerce (MoIC) said that the Islamic Emirate is ready for a Wakhan trade route and calls on China to accelerate its cooperation in creating it.
In a video released by the MoIC, the acting Minister of Industry and Commerce, Nooruddin Azizi, said that a Wakhan trade route could promote trade between China and Afghanistan.
“Undoubtedly, the Wakhan Corridor or historic Silk road can increase the level of trade between the two countries and become a reliable route for the transit of goods,” he said.
The Ministry of Economy (MoE) said that Afghanistan would benefit from the implementation of a Wakhan trade route.
“The connection of Afghanistan with the One Belt One Road initiatives or Silk Road benefits Afghan stability and development,” said Abdul Latif Nazari, deputy Minister of Economy.
The Wakhan route is part of the historic Silk road that connects China to the European countries through Afghanistan.
The Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) said that the Wakhan route would be less cost for traders and that Afghanistan should become part of the Silk road.
“It is really important on the economic side. It benefits all the countries through which it passes, including Afghanistan, China, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Pakistan, as well as Iran and Azerbaijan,” said Khanjan Alokozai, a member of the ACCI.
The One Belt One Road project, which originated from the idea of the Silk road, was adopted by the Chinese government in 2013 to invest in nearly 150 countries and international organizations. The One Belt One Road will cross through Afghanistan, and benefit Afghanistan with massive infrastructural projects, according to analysts.
