Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Investment has called on major Iranian companies to increase their presence in the country, saying Iran’s private sector is underrepresented compared with investors from other nations.

The appeal was made during a meeting between a visiting delegation from Iran Chamber of Commerce and the president of Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Investment in Kabul on Sunday.

The two sides reviewed three priority areas for bilateral cooperation – investment, exports and transport – noting that both countries have struggled to build steady, long-term partnerships in these sectors.

Afghan officials said foreign companies from several countries have already stepped up investment in Afghanistan, but Iran’s footprint remains limited.

Niloofar Asadi, Asia-Oceania director at the international affairs department of Iran Chamber of Commerce, said expanding ties with Afghanistan is a top priority and that Iran is drafting a roadmap aimed at raising the level of economic engagement.

She stressed the need to make better use of joint chambers and to strengthen participation in bilateral commissions to help remove legal barriers and support the development of essential infrastructure.

Iran’s trade with member states of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) reached $27.6 billion in the past calendar year to late March with a total trade volume of 36.2 million tonnes, according to figures released by Iran’s Customs Administration.

Of this amount, exports accounted for 28 million tonnes valued at $14.08 billion, while imports totaled 8.2 million tonnes worth $13.54 billion.

Non-oil exports to ECO countries saw strong growth, rising 38.7% in volume and 37.5% in value year-on-year. Imports from ECO partners also increased, up 36% in volume and 54.5% in value compared to the previous year.

Turkey was the top destination for Iranian non-oil exports, receiving goods worth $6.89 billion. Other key markets included Pakistan ($2.42 billion), Afghanistan ($2.41 billion), Azerbaijan ($681 million), and Turkmenistan ($572 million).

On the import side, Turkey also led the list, exporting $12.47 billion worth of goods to Iran. Pakistan followed with $706 million, and Tajikistan with $93 million.

The Iran Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines, and Agriculture hosted a high-level business delegation from Uzbekistan on Wednesday, led by Davron Vakhabov, president of the country’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry, as both nations seek to expand economic cooperation.

Qadir Qiafeh, Vice President of the Iran Chamber of Commerce, welcomed the Uzbek delegation and expressed optimism that recent positive developments in both countries could lead to enhanced collaboration in industrial, commercial, and technological sectors.

Highlighting Uzbekistan’s strong presence at the upcoming Iran Expo, Qiafeh said: “With 200 Uzbek companies participating, we will certainly organize a side event during Iran Expo to facilitate direct engagement between Iranian and Uzbek business representatives so they can identify potential partners.”

Vakhabov noted that trade ties between Iran and Uzbekistan have grown in recent years, though he stressed that the full potential of bilateral cooperation remains untapped.

“With stronger cooperation between our chambers of commerce and private sectors, and the resolution of trade barriers by our governments, we believe bilateral trade could reach $5 billion by 2028,” he said.

Vakhabov emphasized Uzbekistan’s strategic role as a hub for manufacturing and re-exporting finished goods to third countries, adding that raw materials from Iran could be vital to fueling this growth.

Mousa Aghaei, Chairman of the Iran-Uzbekistan Joint Chamber of Commerce, echoed the need to elevate bilateral trade volumes, saying current figures do not reflect the depth of historical, cultural, and economic ties between the two nations.

Aghaei also called on banks in both countries to draw on their experience and consult with traders to devise solutions for easing financial transactions. He noted that Uzbekistan's exports to Iran suffer from a lack of diversity and said the joint chamber is ready to help promote Uzbek capabilities in the Iranian market.

He concluded by urging Uzbekistan to ease its visa policy for Iranian nationals, stating that the ultimate goal should be full visa exemption.

Iran aims to significantly boost trade with neighboring Azerbaijan in the coming years, building on a 2024 trade volume of around $900 million, the president of Iran Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture said at a bilateral business forum attended by the presidents of both countries.

Speaking at the Iran-Azerbaijan Business Forum in Baku on Monday, Samad Hassanzadeh expressed optimism about deepening economic ties between Tehran and Baku.

"Our goal is to increase the volume of trade to several billion dollars in the coming years," Hassanzadeh said. "This forum should mark a new chapter in strengthening our brotherly relations and expanding joint economic cooperation."

He said Iran’s private sector and business leaders were fully prepared to explore investment and joint production opportunities with Azerbaijani partners.

Hassanzadeh outlined key sectors for collaboration, highlighting transit and transport, particularly the completion of the Rasht–Astara railway—a missing link in the International North–South Transport Corridor (INSTC). The project would reduce shipment times between Asia and Europe and enhance both countries' roles in the global supply chain, he said.

In the energy sector, he pointed to recent tripartite gas swap agreements between Iran, Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan, which have laid the groundwork for expanded cooperation in electricity and gas trade. Joint investments in cross-border energy infrastructure and power plant projects were described as unprecedented opportunities.

Hassanzadeh also emphasized collaboration in agriculture and food industries, including smart farming technologies, greenhouse production, modern irrigation, and exports of processed agricultural products.

Following Azerbaijan’s reclaiming of its territories, he said Iranian firms could play a major role in reconstruction, including in road building, dam construction, electrification, and building hospitals and schools.

Hassanzadeh also identified tourism – especially health, religious, and eco-tourism – as another promising area, citing eased visa regulations and cultural affinity. He added that joint Iran-Azerbaijan tour packages targeting third-country tourists were also under consideration.

To overcome current barriers, Hassanzadeh proposed several measures, including easing visa issuance for business travelers, increasing economic representation offices, resolving banking and payment challenges using national currencies, improving freight movement, and negotiating a free or preferential trade agreement to reduce customs tariffs.

He concluded by expressing hope that the forum would usher in a “remarkable leap” in bilateral trade and investment between the two nations.