Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce on the Path of Connecting Central and South Asia

Afghan Voice Agency (AVA) - Kabul: Mohammad Younus Mohmand, Deputy Director of the Chamber of Commerce and Investment, reported in an interview with AVA about the increase in foreign and domestic investments in 1403 AH, and said that the economy-oriented policy of the Islamic Emirate, overall security in the country, as well as existing domestic capacities, have attracted the attention of many domestic and foreign investors.

Read the details of this conversation below:
AVA: What has been the status of domestic and foreign investments in Afghanistan and investor confidence in the past year?
Mohmand: Over the past year, large domestic and foreign investments have been made in Afghanistan in various fields, including large factories, manufacturing and industrial units, as well as in the production sectors of spices and non-alcoholic beverages.
Most importantly, last year, based on the decree of the Leader of the Islamic Emirate, land was distributed to industrialists. This is an important measure in support of the Afghan private sector, which can play an important and vital role in the prosperity of the country's economy, entrepreneurship, and poverty alleviation.
Afghanistan has already achieved self-sufficiency in many products. In addition, investment in domestic infrastructure, including manufacturing plants, brings Afghanistan closer to self-sufficiency.

AVA: What measures do you think should be taken in the future to gain more investor confidence?
Important: The Chamber of Commerce and Investment always strives to protect the capital of the Afghan people and ensures that their capital is safe inside the country. We hope that investors will also trust and participate in the economic development and progress of Afghanistan by investing inside the country.
We do not expect much from investors; we can only say that now nationwide security has been ensured in Afghanistan, poppy cultivation has decreased to an unprecedented extent, and the business and black economy have been dismantled. The investment environment in the country is fully prepared and they should take advantage of this opportunity.
Currently, considering the current conditions in the country and the cessation of foreign aid, the investment environment in Afghanistan is ready. It is necessary for a coherent movement to be made by the government, capitalists, businessmen, industrialists and the people, and everyone should think about the future of Afghanistan with one mind; because without coordination and collective movement, the economic cycle will not turn around. The government cannot do much without the participation of the private sector and the people.

AVA: The private sector, as partners of governments, always plays a constructive role in economic development. How is the bilateral cooperation between the government and the private sectors in Afghanistan? Are they moving in harmony and are they satisfactory?
Mohmand: The increase in Afghanistan's exports and the strengthening of trade relations with many countries in the region and the world reflect the extensive activities of the private sector in cooperation with the government in the country.
Although we had problems in the trade and transit sector with some neighboring countries, including Pakistan, the private sector is making progress as a partner of the government for economic growth, and Afghanistan's exports to countries in the region and the world will increase in the future.
Trade interactions with the Islamic Republic of Iran, which increased more than ever last year, have been mainly due to the cooperation and facilitation provided by the governments for traders and private sectors of the two countries.
Since the policy of the Islamic Emirate is economy-oriented and the economic sector is supported, especially by the private, trade and transit sectors, and on the other hand, the government also considers and addresses the suggestions of traders and the private sectors, taking into account the conditions, major changes are seen in the type of trade and also an increase in Afghanistan's exports.

AVA: Considering Afghanistan's geographical location, which is landlocked and has no seaports to transport its commercial goods and can only trade through railways, roads and air corridors, can it compete in global markets with this situation?
Mohmand: Yes, although Afghanistan is landlocked and has no seaports, it has very important alternatives such as transporting goods through railways, land roads and air corridors.
In addition, Afghanistan is literally the crossroads of Asia in terms of its geographical location, and this is a privilege that no other country has. For this reason, we do not need seaports so much today in expanding trade.

AVA: What are your main demands from the government to develop trade and investments in the country?
Mohmand: Our main demand from the government is to facilitate the stages of trade programs and end administrative bureaucracy and unnecessary travel between departments. The government should make administrative paths shorter and more efficient by digitizing departments.
There are also shortcomings in the Afghan tax system that must be reformed and clarified in the future, so that taxes are collected from only one channel and no one collects taxes from traders from anywhere. Because this irregularity in tax collection sometimes causes disruption in the trade system and reduces the level of trust.

AVA: What is the plan for trade development this year?
Mohmand: This year, in addition to increasing trade relations with neighboring countries through trust-building, we are trying to strengthen trade relations with China, which is one of the largest economies in the world, through interaction between the private sectors of the two countries.
Expanding trade relations with the countries of the Caucasus is also on the agenda. Yesterday, we met with the head of the Kyrgyz Chamber of Commerce and discussed the transfer of dried and fresh fruits and minerals. There was also a detailed discussion on how to transfer goods to China through Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan.
The general and main program of the Chamber of Commerce and Investment this year is to connect Central Asia to South Asia through trade. It is also planned to establish a joint chamber between Afghanistan, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan. Similarly, a joint chamber of Afghanistan, Turkmenistan and Turkey is also underway and will be launched soon.

AVA: Given that Afghanistan currently does not have an official and globally recognized government and there are no formal trade agreements with countries, how do you assess Afghanistan’s future in terms of investment and trade?
Mohmand: Afghanistan’s future is bright and the government will eventually be recognized. In addition, many countries need Afghanistan in trade relations. The potential in Afghanistan, especially its underground reserves and geographical location, indicates a prosperous future for the country, especially in the trade and investment sectors.
Afghanistan is also developing in the field of energy; the TAPI gas pipeline project is being implemented, the CASA 1000 project is receiving special attention, and the Qush Tepe Canal, one of Afghanistan’s largest agricultural projects, is being completed. All of this determines the future of Afghanistan and we should be hopeful.
During my recent trips to Nimroz, Farah, and Herat provinces, I observed that people have turned more to agriculture. They have realized that one way to prosper their families' economies is to rely on agriculture and livestock, and they are trying to develop this sector and export their agricultural products to other countries.