Iranian agriculture minister arrives in Kabul for farm exhibition

Gholamreza Nouri Ghazaljeh, Iran’s minister of agriculture jihad and head of the joint commission for economic cooperation between the two countries, has arrived in Kabul at the head of an economic delegation. The visit is being made to attend Afghanistan’s first international agriculture and livestock exhibition and to meet with Taliban officials.

According to Iranian media, the trip will also review areas of economic and agricultural cooperation between Afghanistan and Iran. Iranian officials have said the purpose of the visit is to discuss expanding cooperation in these sectors.

Afghanistan’s first international agriculture and livestock exhibition has opened in Kabul with officials from both sides in attendance. According to Alireza Bikdeli, Iran’s ambassador in Kabul, more than 52 Iranian companies are taking part in the event, with 32 exhibiting in dedicated booths and 20 others attending as visitors.

Bikdeli described the holding of the exhibition as a sign of progress, stability and security in Afghanistan. This assessment was made by the Iranian ambassador and was presented as Tehran’s official position on the sidelines of the event.

Iran’s agriculture jihad minister had previously said in meetings with Afghan officials that Tehran was ready to cooperate technically and in engineering in the agriculture sector. The exhibition is being held in Kabul from 20 to 25 August, and its organisers say its aim is to support domestic production, create a market for farmers’ products and introduce Afghanistan’s agricultural capacities to countries in the region.