No financial, life guarantee for investors: Minister

KABUL (Pajhwok): Private entrepreneurs on Sunday asked the government to resolve their problems while the new commerce and industry minister expressed his concern over lack of financial and life guarantees for businesspeople in Afghanistan.

While marking Global Entrepreneurship Week in Kabul, a number of private entrepreneurs and businesspeople asked the government to take action and resolve their legal problems, insecurity, high taxes, lack of access to loans and high rents.

Haji Mirwais Hajizada, deputy head of Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Investment (ACCI), also a businessman who attended the ceremony, said that products produced inside the country should not be imported from abroad.

He said a high amount of fruits grown in the country were decayed due to their high imports from foreign countries. There should be rules and laws to prevent imports of similar things which were also produced inside the country, he added.

Parwarish Oryakhel, deputy head of Women Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said, “Insecurity, lack of electricity, lack of access to long-term loans, high rents of properties and absence of some rules are main challenges facing investors in the country.”

She said women in the past only invested in handicrafts, but now they had invested in many different areas including health, education, higher education and others.

The number of women entrepreneurs last year was 1,400 compared to 2,500 this year, she said.

Zabihullah Zyarmal, head of International Commercial Center for Afghanistan, said that entrepreneurs were the backbone of a country’s economy and the government should take action for resolving their problems regarding laws, security, taxes and other areas.

Sakhi Ahmad Paiman, head of Paiman Group and a member of Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said, “This country would not be rebuilt by foreigners, we should join hands and create jobs. If we receive support, we do not fear rockets and explosions.” He also asked the government to pay attention to problems of business people.

Nisar Ahmad Ghoryani, commerce and industry minister, talking to the ceremony, acknowledged problems of the private sector and said, “Investors who work in Afghanistan have no financial and life guarantees, but they still work despite all the problems, they need to be supported.”

He promised to take action for resolving problems of investors. He said special attention would be paid to simplification of licensing, their extension, payment of taxes and other services.

He asked investors who shifted their capitals abroad to return as they would be provided with better business facilities by the ministry.

Mds/ma

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