Afghanistan’s exports touch $2 billion for first time: Ministry

KABUL (Pajhwok): Afghanistan’s exports for the first time touched $2  billion mark during 1401 solar year, with imports reaching $6 billion and 740 million, an official of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry said on Tuesday.

Addressing journalists at the Government Information and Media Center, deputy minister for Commerce and Industry Maulvi Qutratullah Jamal talked about his ministry’s activities and and achievements in the last 1401 solar year.

He said the Islamic Emirate had been able to increase the country’s exports to a historic two billion dollars mark, showing a 135 percent increased over 1400 solar year and 166 percent increase to 1399 solar year. However, he did not provide the reason for the increase in exports.

Jamal said the country’s exports in 1400 solar year had been 478 million US dollars.

He added that Afghanistan currently exported coal, medicinal plants, cotton, grapes, pomegranates, raisins, dried figs, almonds , pine nuts and apricots to Pakistan, India, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Iran, United Arab Emirates, China, Iran, Iraq, Turkey and Kazakhstan.

He said Afghanistan imported goods worth six billion and 740 million US dollars from Pakistan, Iran, China, United Arab Emirates, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Russia, Uzbekistan, India and Malaysia in 1401 solar year. The imports included cotton, petrol, natural gas, auto parts, wheat and others.

The deputy minister said importers had been provided more facilities compared to the past, enabling the private sector to effectively deliver its imported goods to the country’s markets through all the port.

About the industry, he said, the development of the industry was one of the Islamic Emirate’s strategic goals. He said Afghanistan had become self-sufficient in iron milting, round steel bars, 15 types of medicine, beverages and energy and carpet products as well as the printing sector.

About budget spending, Jamal said the ministry utilized 83 percent of its general and development budget from the total 704.4 million afghanis.

In 1401 solar year, the ministry received 704.4 million afghanis in revenue compared to 241. 9 million afghanis in 1400 solar year.

He also provided information about the ministry’s plans for the current 1402 solar year, saying the focus would be on economic projects, the textile industry, strengthening regional cooperation, increasing Afghanistan’s exports, attracting more investment and establishing industrial parks.

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