TEHRAN (Dispatches) - Iranian Ambassador to Kabul Bahador Aminian has said that his country’s exports to Afghanistan are 3 times more than what it sends to 28 member states of the European Union, highlighting that trade with Afghanistan is of high value to Tehran.
Developing trade ties with Afghanistan is Iran’s priority because the two countries are neighbors, Aminian said, addressing the Working Group for Export Development and Council for Organizing Border Exchanges of Southern Khorasan Province. 
"Afghanistan is Iran’s priority in our resistance economic policies as it is our neighbor and has a good share of our exported products,” he added.
He mentioned that Iran’s exports to the 28 European Union (EU) countries is only a third of what it exports to Afghanistan. 
Aminian called on Iran’s private sector to play a more prominent role in exports to the country’s eastern neighbor. 
He noted that Iran is active in establishing universities and vocational schools, agriculture and health tourism with Afghanistan. 
The Iranian envoy stressed that Iranian businessmen should establish joint ventures in Afghanistan’s industrial estates to be later able to export to many other countries, including Europe. 
Southern Khorasan’s Deputy Governor for Coordination of Economic Affairs Moshirolhaq Abedi urged better and faster connection between the Iranian and Afghan provinces, including Farah. 
He added that Afghan Studies are being taught at the University of Birjand, the provincial capital. 
Southern Khorasan shares 331 kilometers of land border with Afghanistan, according to the official.