The Deputy Chief Economist of the Department for the International Development (DFID) of UK on Wednesday expressed his optimism regarding the economic development in Afghanistan, saying the war-torn country is going on the right direction.

AVA- Talking with a group of journalists in Kabul, Nicolas Lea, the deputy chief economist of DFID believes that despite the existing challenges and difficulties, Afghanistan is moving on the right direction.
According to Mr. Lea, the number of students going to school was over nine million in 2017 while it was under one million in 2001.
In addition, the percentage of health facilities have improved from 60 percent in 2006 to 93 percent in 2017.
Mr. Lea recommended the Afghan government to make policies to reduce poverty, deliver what normal people need in terms of health, education, and items of disaster relief.
Furthermore, he suggested the government to work on policies concerning demographic transition.
Mr. Lea said that demographic transition is helping women to have smaller families.
“We have good evidence from over the world that when population growth is very high, it makes every aspect of development more difficult,” says Mr. Lea.
Moreover, he pointed out the importance of agriculture in the development of economic in Afghanistan and said that it can provide employment and export opportunities.
Mr. Lea stressed that they will keep up supporting Afghanistan.
“We continue on institutional strengthening; of strengthening the government’s availability to write budgets, to execute investments, to plan to tax, and to be able to implement projects,” said Mr. Lea.