Taliban Establishing Afghan Trade Center in Russia to Boost Bilateral Commerce
The Taliban administration is setting up a trade center in Russia, according to RIA Novosti, in an effort that a Russian official has described as essential for enhancing commercial activity between the two sides. Rustam Habibullin, head of the Russian Trade Center in Afghanistan, emphasized that Afghan traders are eager to access the Russian market due to high demand, making the creation of a trade center in Moscow a priority.
He added that the Taliban’s Minister of Industry and Commerce, along with their ambassador to Russia, are currently working to coordinate the launch of this center. Earlier, Azizi, the Taliban’s Minister of Industry and Commerce, had expressed the administration’s desire to open a similar center in Moscow following the inauguration of a Russian trade center in Kabul in 2023.
Reports indicate that not only have Russian exports to Afghanistan increased in the past, but Afghan exports to Russia are also on the rise. Habibullin noted various challenges in bilateral trade that require direct negotiation and resolution.
He highlighted a surge in pomegranate exports from Afghanistan to Russia, with trial shipments of grapes, apples, and other melons also reaching Russian markets. The closure of the Afghanistan-Pakistan border has opened up alternative markets, allowing Afghan fruits and vegetables to be exported to Iran, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Russia.
According to Habibullin, since autumn, over 300 tons of Afghan pomegranates have been delivered to Russian markets such as Moscow and St. Petersburg, alongside test shipments of apples and grapes that have also found buyers. He pointed out that limited access to cold storage facilities in Afghanistan forces farmers to sell fresh produce immediately after harvest, but expanding exports to Russia could establish more sustained, seasonal export opportunities beyond one-time sales.
