Afghanistan hopeful on revival of Silk Route

Expecting that trade ties between India and Afghanistan will touch USD 3 billion, Afghanistan Ambassador to India Shaida Mohammad Abdali today said he was hopeful about alternative trade routes for different countries with Afghanistan including the Silk Route and Chabahar port.
"Presently, trade ties between India and Afghanistan is USD 700-800 million. We hope after the full operationalisation of Chabahar port, it will cross USD 3 billion," Abdali told reporters on the sidelines of a Bengal Chamber of Commerce and Industry programme here.
Abdali said Afghanistan was keen on receiving investments in mineral, health and education sectors.
"There are huge investments in the construction sector of Afghanistan. We are hopeful of receiving more investments in mineral, health and education sector," he said.

Talking about alternate routes, Abdali said, "We are expecting Chabahar port to be operational in the near future. Apart from Chabahar, we are talking of a new route - Lapis Lazuli, which can connect Afghanistan, Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Turkey and the Black Sea."
"We are also trying to revive the Silk Route. India, US and China all are helping in reviving it," he added.