Kabul — Afghanistan, Central Asian countries and India have signed 22 trade memoranda of understanding with an announced combined value of more than $400 million. According to TOLOnews, the agreements are intended to increase regional trade, economic cooperation and business links.
The largest memorandum was reportedly valued at $103 million. Representatives from India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Turkmenistan took part alongside business groups from Afghanistan and Uzbekistan.
The agreements were announced during the fifth Imam Abu Hanifa National and International Exhibition in Kabul, where traders from different countries met to explore commercial and investment opportunities.
The memoranda could improve Afghanistan's access to regional markets and create opportunities for exports and joint ventures. However, their actual economic effect can only be assessed once implementation and progress details become available.
The amount exceeding $400 million is the combined stated value of memoranda, not foreign direct investment already received in Afghanistan.