Afghanistan-India air cargo route opened

Kabul June 19 (IANS) The first-ever Afghanistan-India air cargo route was inaugurated here with the first flight leaving for India on Monday.

The flight departed Kabul with a 60-tonne consignment of goods mostly comprising medicinal plants Xinhua news agency reported.

Welcoming the step Khan Jan Alkozai deputy chairman of the Afghan Chamber of Commerce and Industry said India is a good market for Afghan products especially fresh and dry fruits.

The volume of transaction between Afghanistan and India according to the official is some $500 million at present.

Afghan businessmen and traders said the opening of the air cargo corridor will help increase the volume of trade between the two countries.

The next cargo flight with 40 tonnes of goods will take off from the southern Kandahar province to India next week Alkozai added.

--IANS
soni/dg