Afghanistan’s exports to reach $1b this year: Minister

MAZAR-I-SHARIF (Pajhwok): Afghanistan’s exports would reach one billion dollars during the ongoing year, the Minister for Commerce and Industry said on Thursday.

Ajmal Ahmadi said this while talking to traders in Mazar-i-Sharif, the capital of northern Balkh province. He said $1 billion had been set the target for this year’s exports. He said air corridors had a key role in  growth of exports.

“A number of locally produced goods would be previously consumed at home, but this year we exported these goods to foreign countries and this move lead to increase in the exports,” the minister explained.

Ahamdi said the country’s exports would further grow with completion railroad projects. He said turning Afghanistan into an exporting country from importing one had been the unity government’s top priority.

The minister added the government had recently introduced many facilities to companies in obtaining operational licenses and his ministry’s focus had been on development of industry and investment.

He said two industrial parks existed in Mazar-i-Sharif and his ministry would take crucial steps to protect and expand the parks.

Ahmadi also said trade promotion required increased public-private sectors cooperation.

Meanwhile, Balkh governor Mohammad Ishaq Rahguzar said Balkh was a safe place for investment and foreign and local traders evinced interest in making investments in the province.

However, he said insecurity had increased in a number of Balkh district and neighboring provinces, but efforts were underway to control the situation.

The governor said those threatening traders with violence would be dealt with sternly.

Speaking on the occasion, trader Nasim Amini said the government should assist traders in obtaining loan and other financial help.

He said so far businessmen were using their own capital and the government had not fulfilled most of its promises with industrialists.

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