Nournews: Mahmoud Siadat, Chairman of the Iran–Afghanistan Joint Chamber of Commerce, highlighted the financial barriers hindering trade development between the two countries, stating: "One of the biggest bottlenecks in expanding our trade with Afghanistan is the banking deadlock and dependence on intermediary systems and third-country currencies. Although, in the short term, maintaining the flow of trade leaves us with no choice but to rely on temporary solutions such as traditional barter arrangements or the use of exchange houses, our medium- and long-term strategy at the Joint Chamber is fundamentally different."

Siadat added: "Our primary goal and plan is to upgrade the rial–afghani currency settlement model from an informal and traditional arrangement into an official banking and financial platform. To achieve this objective, we are pursuing several key steps and infrastructure projects."

He identified the first step as the establishment of an intermediary switch and a bilateral currency clearing center between the two countries, saying: "The most essential measure is the creation of a currency clearing center or an intermediary switch between Iran and Afghanistan. This mechanism will enable traders on both sides to conduct transactions without relying on third-country currencies such as the U.S. dollar, using only their domestic settlement systems. Such a move will significantly reduce transaction costs and increase the speed of capital circulation."

Siadat further emphasized the need for technical connectivity between the commercial banks of the two countries, stating: "The broader infrastructure supporting this platform is the establishment of secure technical connectivity between the commercial banks of both countries. The most important outcome of this connection will be the creation of payment guarantee mechanisms, which will minimize the longstanding concerns and risks faced by traders in transferring funds and provide a secure environment for commerce. In this regard, we are currently collaborating with a well-known and reputable Iranian company to develop the platform."

The Chairman of the Iran–Afghanistan Joint Chamber of Commerce also pointed to the role of this infrastructure in promoting the digital economy, saying: "The importance of this financial infrastructure extends beyond large-scale trade. One of our key objectives is to connect the online retail platforms of the two countries. This linkage is vital for home-based businesses and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which play a major role in job creation in both countries, and it can open up new markets for them."

He added: "The Joint Chamber's vision for the future of trade with Afghanistan is centered on the adoption of new technologies. Wherever this approach has been implemented in Iran, it has generated substantial benefits, and a significant part of our future undoubtedly depends on the growth of the digital economy. We are working to develop a portfolio of Iran's digital economy services and initiatives for the Afghan market. To this end, intensive consultations have begun with the relevant authorities and leading technology companies. We hope these efforts will soon reach the implementation stage and fundamentally transform the framework of economic cooperation between the two countries."