The Afghan Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation says eight shipments of domestic products and goods are scheduled to be exported through the Lapis Lazuli Corridor, TOLOnews reports.
The shipments, weighing 18 tons in total, include dried fruit, pressure cookers, cooking spices, and beverages.
According to the ministry, from now on three to four export shipments will be sent abroad daily through the Lapis Lazuli Corridor.
Hekmatullah Asifi, spokesperson for the ministry, said: “Our export goods first depart from the Torghundi port in Herat to Turkmenbashi port in Turkmenistan, then through the Caspian Sea to Baku port in Azerbaijan, and afterwards they are transported to Georgia and Turkey. From Turkey, our commercial goods are exported to different countries.”
The shipments are expected to be exported to the United States, Australia, Europe, and Saudi Arabia.
These are the first export shipments in recent years to be sent through the Lapis Lazuli Corridor.
Due to the closure of routes with Pakistan and the war-related challenges in Iran, the Lapis Lazuli Corridor is considered the most suitable alternative route for transporting Afghanistan’s commercial goods. According to the Ministry of Transport, in addition to the Lapis Lazuli Corridor, direct imports and exports with Russia are ongoing, and trade with Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and China is also continuing through railway routes.
