KABUL (Pajhwok): The Ministry of Mines and Petroleum (MoMP) inaugurated Afghanistan’s first specialised mining exhibition in the capital Kabul on Wednesday.
The ministry said the exhibition was organised in cooperation with Bakhtar Derakhshan Exhibition Company. A total of 150 firms, including Iranian, Chinese and Indian companies, are showcasing various mining-related products across 150 booths.
Addressing the opening ceremony, Deputy Prime Minister for Administrative Affairs Mawlawi Abdul Salam Hanafi said holding such exhibitions was very important for the country’s economic growth.
He said the exhibition aimed to introduce Afghanistan’s mineral products and provide opportunities for cooperation and coordination between domestic and foreign investors.
Hanafi called on all domestic and foreign investors to invest in Afghanistan.
He added that efforts were being made to ensure the country’s mines were extracted in accordance with standards.
He assured the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) was ready to provide investors with all necessary facilities.
He added that foreign companies investing in Afghanistan could lease land under long-term contracts without having to partner with Afghan companies.
Minister of Mines and Petroleum Mullah Hedayatullah Badri said significant activities and progress had been made in the mining sector since the IEA returned to power.
He said more than 180,000 people were currently employed in the mining sector.
Afghanistan has abundant natural resources and mineral reserves, and the government is seeking to use them effectively to strengthen the economy and promote national development, he added.
Badri said the IEA’s main objective was to use revenue generated from mining for the benefit of the state and the people.
He added that 350 mining contracts were currently active across the country.
Meanwhile, Minister of Commerce and Industry Nooruddin Azizi said Afghanistan had considerable potential and was making progress.
He urged investors, neighbouring countries and other nations to invest in Afghanistan’s mining sector.
Azizi also called on investors and companies to process all minerals inside Afghanistan.
He said the country could move towards economic self-sufficiency by managing its extensive mineral resources effectively.
The exhibition opened today (Wednesday) and will remain open until October 31 in Kabul.
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