Iran’s Dogharoun Special Economic Zone Handles $3.2 Billion in Exports to Afghanistan Amid Trade Imbalance
According to the Economic Desk of Webangah News Agency, the Dogharoun Special Economic Zone, located 225 km southeast of Mashhad and 18 km east of Taybad, serves as Iran’s primary export gateway to Afghanistan. Situated directly on the border with Afghanistan, this 8,700-hectare zone – Iran’s largest special economic area – processes approximately 60% of Iran’s total exports to its eastern neighbor while handling a modest $30 million in Afghan imports.
Established in 2008-2010 with over 120,000 local shareholders, the zone occupies a strategic position along multiple international transport corridors including the North-South Transport Corridor, TRACECA, and the Asian Highway Network. Dogharoun’s century-old customs facility serves as Afghanistan’s most important land border for accessing European and Persian Gulf markets, with Herat Province – Afghanistan’s economic hub – lying just 120 km away.
Mohammad Mowdoodi, CEO of Dogharoun Free Zone, revealed that 1,300 freight trucks cross daily through this terminal, accounting for half of Iran’s total trade volume with Afghanistan. The zone aims to transform into an International Economy Hub, facilitating Afghan exports not just to Iran but globally, while addressing the current trade imbalance where Afghan exports consist mainly of raw materials.
