DUSHANBE, February 22, 2010, Asia-Plus  -- Organization of the second exhibition, entitled Economic Development of Afghanistan, in Dushanbe was the focus of a meeting of Tajikistan’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCI) head Sharif Said with the president of the Herat Chamber of Commerce and Industry Alhaj Ghulam Qader and Afghan Trade Attaché Najibulla Rahimi that took place here on February 20, according to the CCI press service.

In the course of the talks, Mr. Alhaj Ghulam Qader, in particular, noted that the first Afghan exhibition that took place here in 2009 was successful and offered organization of the second exhibition in the Tajik capital this year.

Tajik CCI head seconded his proposal, noting that such events would promote expansion of economic cooperation between the two countries.  In January this year, a two-way trade between Tajikistan and Afghanistan amounted to 7.696 million U.S. dollars, which is 74.4 percent more than in the same period of 2009, Sharif Said noted.

According to him, a number of joint ventures were launched last year and many entrepreneurs found business partners.  He added that construction of new bridges across the Panj River connecting Tajikistan and Afghanistan would consolidate permanent overland links between the two countries.

The sides agreed to hold the second Afghan exhibition at the Kokhi Borbad State Complex in Dushanbe from March 13-16 this year, the press service said.