A delegation from the Ministry of Public Works of Afghanistan recently attended the annual Middle East Regional Assembly of the International Union of Railways (UIC) in Jordan. The meeting aimed to enhance rail services, standardize railways, and promote digitalization across member countries.
Key Discussions and Objectives
Kabul 24: Mohammad Ashraf Haqshinas, spokesperson for the Ministry of Public Works, highlighted the key objectives of the meeting, which included improving rail services, standardizing railways, creating new corridors, digitalization and simplification, accelerating transportation, reducing costs, reducing air pollution, and coordinating and cooperating between member countries. Additionally, new telecommunications and communication systems were introduced during the meeting.
Importance of Railways in Afghanistan’s Trade Relations
The Chamber of Industries and Mines emphasized the significance of railways and investment in this sector for increasing Afghanistan’s trade relations with regional countries. Sakhi Ahmad Paiman, the first deputy of the Chamber of Industries and Mines, noted that Afghanistan’s landlocked status makes the issue of transit and railways reaching the borders crucial for both political and economic reasons.
He stressed that connecting with regional countries, reducing costs in transportation and relocation of goods, is vital for Afghanistan’s trade.
Afghan-Trans Project and Regional Connectivity
The Union of Industrialists highlighted the need to complete the Afghan-Trans project to connect Central Asia to South Asia. Abdul Jabbar Safi, the head of the Union of Industrialists, emphasized that connecting through the railway to Iran, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan is significant for Afghanistan. He noted that the Afghan-Trans project would facilitate trade and commerce between these regions.
Recent Railway Activity
The country’s railway administration reported that in the first two months of the current solar year, approximately 472,500 tons of transfers were sent through the railways, indicating a significant increase in rail activity. This development underscores the importance of railways in Afghanistan’s trade and economic growth
