Afghanistan invites Indian firms to invest in Mining

Hyderabad: Afghanistan Ambassador in India Farid Mamundzay on Wednesday invited Indian companies to invest in mining which is worth over $3 trillion US dollars.

We need help from India in mining and we also need investments in infrastructure projects, and solar plants, said Mamundzay at an interactive meeting on Exploring Business Opportunities with Afghanistan organized jointly by The Federation of Telangana Chamber of Commerce and Industry(FTCCI) and the World Trade Center here.

He asked India and Telangana to look at Afghanistan as a potential future for bilateral trade. India is a natural trade destination.

He said we have deep-rooted history between the two countries and also with Telangana.

The ambassador said the first provisional Government of India was a provisional government in exile established by Raja Mahendra Pratap from Kabul in Afghanistan. We stood against the British, he said. Thirty years after that event India got its Independence. India and Afghanistan, both countries are a source of inspiration for each other. We are an extension of India. We have a 1900-year-old Mandir and it is located in Kabul.

The Ambassador said the current trade between both countries is about Rs 12000 crore. India exports more to Afghanistan than we do to India. We export dry fruits, precious stones, semi-precious stones, spices, saffron and others.

India exports Pharma products, textile chemicals and others. With increasing ties the trade potential can be doubled in a couple of years, he said.

He said that air connectivity between the two nations needs to be improved. Currently, we have two weekly flights, from Delhi to Kabul. We want air connectivity between Hyderabad and Kabul, he added.

Other dignitaries who graced on the occasion include Mr Qadir Shah, Counselor (Head of Trade Office) Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, Mr Sayed Mohammad Ibrahimkhil, Acting Consul General, Consulate General of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and Mr Sediqullah Sahar, Education Attaché Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and FTCCI President Mr. Anil Agarwal
UNI