Russia's Ministry of Finance reported that Russian and Afghan representatives signed official and commercial documents to expand bilateral trade following talks led by Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexei Overchuk in Kabul on Nov. 12. The documents cover supplies of Russian food, pharmaceutical products, medical devices and energy equipment, alongside increased shipments of Afghan pomegranates, fresh fruit and dried fruit to Russia.
Officials also signed the protocol of the first meeting of the Russian-Afghan commission on trade and economic cooperation. Overchuk proposed establishing ties between Afghanistan and the Eurasian Economic Commission, noting that technical regulation and standardization within the Eurasian Economic Union are handled at the supranational level. Discussions also addressed customs cooperation and arrangements for delivering goods.
The agreements follow growth in bilateral trade, which more than doubled year on year to exceed USD 349 million in the first eight months of 2026. Russian exports to Afghanistan rose 110%, while imports of Afghan products increased 120%. The range of Afghan exports to Russia has broadened beyond dried fruit to include fresh fruit, vegetables and berries.