Reducing poverty, unemployment top priority: Baradar

KABUL (Pajhwok): The Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs says the caretaker government considers reducing poverty, unemployment, and providing jobs to the people its responsibility and a priority.

Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar Akhund made these remarks today at a national conference on promoting investment and job creation titled “National Microfinance Conference, Opportunities and Challenges,” held at Kabul Serena Hotel.

He added that the beneficiaries of the microfinance sector were ordinary people, poor farmers, and small business owners, and cooperation with them was a common goal of the Islamic Emirate and the international community.

He emphasized that reducing poverty, unemployment, and creating job opportunities for the people were among the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan’s top priorities.

He said in order to support small businesses and create new job opportunities, a regulation has been introduced by the Central Bank to monitor and regulate this sector, something never done in the last 20 years.

He added complete security across the country offered a better opportunity than ever to assist the ordinary people through the microfinance sector and to create job opportunities for them.

According to him, supporting and collaborating with microfinance is critical because this sector directly impacts the lives of ordinary and poor people, helping farmers and the general population while creating employment opportunities for them.

Mullah Baradar called on the international community, donor agencies, and wealthy Afghans to stand alongside the Islamic Emirate in supporting microfinance.

Meanwhile, Nooruddin Azizi, the Acting Minister of Industry and Commerce, also spoke at the conference, saying that the Islamic Emirate, with its policies for economic growth and development through the private sector, has prioritized support for various enterprises, which form the backbone of the country's economy.

He added that despite the existing challenges and difficulties, there are still many opportunities for economic development and improving the living standards of the people in key sectors.

The conference was attended by several cabinet members, representatives from the United Nations, the European Union, the World Bank, ambassadors residing in the country, officials from international and local institutions, and a number of national investors and businessmen.

sa/ma