Following the success of the Kabul-New Delhi route, India and Afghanistan on Wednesday launched an air corridor between Kabul and Mumbai that is expected to provide real and unimpeded connectivity to Afghan traders.
“Congratulations, Afgha-nistan! The India-Afghanistan Air Corridor expanded today. His Excellency Afghan Vice President Sarwar Danish inaugurated the first cargo flight from Kabul to Mumbai,” Indian Ambassador to Afghanistan Manpreet Vohra tweeted.
Speaking at the launch ceremony in Kabul, Danish said: “India has also promised to hold exhibition for Afghan traders in Mumbai city and they also want to create business chambers.”
Deputy Chairman of the Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Industries (ACCI) Khan Jan Alokozay was quoted as saying by the local media that the exports of fruits from Afghanistan to India would increase further after the launching of the Kabul-Mumbai route.
India and Afghanistan had launched the Kabul-Delhi air freight corridor in June to help boost trade, hampered by Pakistan that disallows Indian goods along the road route. The air corridor has become very popular with Afghan traders for exporting their products, especially perishable items, to India and South-east Asia.
The connectivity has also helped Afghanistan to leverage India’s economic growth and trade networks for its benefit.