In a TOLOnews debate, the acting Ministry of Industry and Commerce (MoIC), Nooruddin Azizi, said that Afghanistan has trade relations with 60 of the world’s countries and that most of the trade takes place with India, China, and Pakistan as well as Central Asia.
Economists Sayed Masoud and Azeraksh Hafizi as well as members of the Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Investment were part of the panel of TOLOnews’ debate.
“We had exports to approximately more than 60 countries. It is a fact that we have our major export to India, Pakistan and China. We are trying to target Central Asia and Russia from now on,” he said.
He said that Afghanistan is going towards self-sufficiency within the next three-years and that the Afghans will not rely on humanitarian assistance.
“We will go towards self-sufficiency within the next three years. We will improve our trade rate as well. I am not going to promise more than this,” Azizi said.
The acting Minister of Industry and Mines said that the plans are underway to improve the country’s economic and trade sector; all budgets are funded through national revenue.
Despite the challenges in issuance of visas for the traders, Azizi said that exports have increased twice compared to before.
“We need to fund our budget from national revenue. We should not need foreign assistance. So far, the budget we spent is through our national revenue,” he said.
Economist Masoud said that the lower rate of expenses inside the country caused exports to increase.
“Reduction in the level of expenses is causing an increase in exports. It means that when the expenses reduce in the country, [goods] are heading towards export. This is a theory which we are implementing practically in Kabul,” he said.
The acting Minister of Industry and Mines said that all infrastructures were destroyed and that all assets of the Central Bank were transferred to other countries while the US troops were withdrawing from Afghanistan.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Industry and Commerce (MoIC) said that the ground for domestic and foreign investment in Afghanistan has been paved.
Speaking at the 14th Russian Islamic World “Kazanforum,” the acting Minister of Industry and Commerce, Nooruddin Azizi, called on regional countries to invest in various sectors of Afghanistan, saying that the country has the capacity to become an industrial country.
“Thousands of domestic and foreign investors have recently showed an interest in investment in different sectors in Afghanistan. They received licenses and they are in contact with various organizations to start their businesses,” he said.
A delegation of the Islamic Emirate led by the acting Minister of Industry and Mines attended the 14th Russian Islamic World Kazanforum.
This comes as the head of the economic relations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Shafay Azam, who is also among the delegation of the Islamic Emirate, said that they discussed the existing opportunity for investment in Afghanistan.
“The Islamic Emirate has announced its stand on investment in agriculture, mining and other sectors. On the sideline meetings, there were discussions about the existing opportunities,” he said.
The Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Investment (ACCI) urged Moscow to bring facilitate the issuance of visas and to reduce tariffs.
“I hope the Ministry of Industry and Commerce (MoIC) solves the problems which we have with tariffs and transit in commerce with Russia,” said Khanjan Alokozai, a member of the ACCI.
The delegation of the Islamic Emirate also included deputy Minister of Higher Education, Lutfullah Khairkhwah, who said that women contribute 38 percent of school teachers.
“We have 17,780 schools all over Afghanistan. There are 240,000 teachers, with women contributing 38 percent of them,” said Lutfullah Khairkhwah, deputy minister of Higher Education.
Based on information of the Chamber of Commerce and Investment, the annual trade rate of Afghanistan with Russia reaches between $200 to 300 million.—Tolo News
