Afghanistan’s exports of fruit juices to foreign countries, including Pakistan and India, mounted to $8.9 in less than two months.
Omaid Bahar Factory began exporting pomegranate, apple, melon, mulberry and apricot juices on April 20. The firm receives its fruits from different provinces of Afghanistan: pomegranates from Kandahar, apricots and apples from Logar and Maidan Wardak and mulberry from the Northern provinces.
The factory has its hands reached to foreign markets in Italy, U.S.A, Russia, the United Arab Emeriates and Kyrgyzstan, where the firm had sent the samples of the different juices produced.
The factory was established in 2009 and produced over 100,000 juice packets a day.
Afghanistan’s competitive advantage lies at its agricultural products. Expanding the export business of fruit juices would serve as a good source for improving the war-battered economy.
According Afghanistan Industrial Association head Haji Abdul Jabar Safi, 1,020 factories are currently operating across the country who have urged the government to support domestic products by reducing tariffs and increasing import taxes.
