Senate asks President Ghani to review AISA merger decision

KABUL Investment Support Agency (AISA) into the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

Lawmaker Mohammad Alam Ezedyar told the session that the president should work for attracting investments in the country instead of dissolving “an independent and effectively operational” organization. Ezedyar said the president had been “ill-advised” on AISA and he should review his decision.

The lawmaker praised AISA’s leadership for bringing many positive changes to the agency and making efforts to attract investments.

Another member of the Senate, Safiullah Hashmi, said: “It is not in the interest of Afghanistan to dissolve AISA at a time when the capital flight is ongoing and no one is willing to make investment.” He said no other department matched the “achievements” of AISA despite some problems in its leadership.

First deputy speaker Farhad Sakhi, who presided over the session, insisted AISA should serve as an independent organ, calling it a demand of all traders. He said the government should pay more attention the organization and let it operate independently.

AISA chief executive Qurban Haqju had also expressed his reservations about the decision to merge AISA into the Commerce Ministry, saying the move would have “a negative impact on the country’s economy, investment and trade.”