Afghanistan ports to turn into open economic zones: Ghani

KABUL (Pajhwok): President Ashraf Ghani on Monday said the country’s ports would be turned into open economic zones for paving the ground for foreign and local investments and job opportunities.

A statement from the Presidential Palace to Pajhwok Afghan News said that the President met with members of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) today.

Mail Khairkhwah, head of the board of directors’ of the ICC delegation, during the meeting said: “We are ready to assist the private and public partnership, it would help us maintain our commerce relations inside the country and abroad.”

He said opening of the ICC branch in Afghanistan was aimed at serving the private sector and 35 traders had registered with the branch, who had organized some programs.

A number of other traders also talked in the meeting.

At the end, President Ghani told the participants their plans would be reviewed by the High Economic Council and a decision would be made after full assessment.

He said the structure of the public-private partnership should be clear, so financial, intellectual and human resources were better utilized.

“We try to build trustful systems in the country’s ports, that would help traders, prove effective for economic development and increase our revenue,” he said.

The president said: “Our ports would be changed into open economic zones and it would create opportunities for investment and jobs.”

Ghani also agreed with the ICC delegation to have a representative in the High Economic Council and said he wanted a clear analysis from the private sector, particularly in exports and purchase of government’s supplies.

mds/ma