The start of construction of the 2nd phase of the Qush Tepa canal, the reconstruction of the Salang highway and contracts worth billions of dollars are considered to be the main economic projects under focus in 2023.
However, according to the UN agencies’ reports, poverty and economic hardship has remained an unabated problem for Afghans over the last year. The Ministry of Economy (MoE) said that 179 projects worth over 27 billion Afs have been completed this year.
“Currently, all facilities which are under the focus of the government including the projects and infrastructure are being supported through our national revenue. This is the achievement of the Islamic Emirate,” said Abdul Latif Nazari, the Deputy Minister of Economy.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony of the start of work on the second phase of the Qush-Tepa canal, the acting Defense Minister, Mawlawi Mohammad Yaqoob Mujahid, pledged security of the Qosh Tepa Canal project, saying that they will not allow anyone to create obstacles to this project.
“All of us, especially the national and Islamic armies of the Defense Ministry, are behind the implementation of such projects, and they will support it with all their power,” Yaqoob Mujahid said.
The acting Minister of Interior, Sirajuddin Haqqani at the same ceremony said that the Afghans are a zealous nation and stand by their commitments and promises.
“We do not exceed our limits and we defend our rights,” he said then.
Since the start of 2023, senior officials of the Islamic Emirate including the Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs, Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar and acting ministers of industry and commerce, transport and civilian aviation, energy and water and foreign affairs traveled to various regional countries such as Turkey, China, Iran, Russian, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Pakistan in a bid to improve the country’s economic ties.
On May 18, 2023, 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 shown 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.
On November 11, 2023, Baradar, who then returned to Kabul from Iran, announced the signing of several memorandums of understanding with government officials and the private sector of Iran.
Baradar told reporters at the Kabul International Airport that the signing of these memorandums is a great achievement for the two countries, which can provide better business opportunities between Tehran and Kabul.
“We signed several memorandums of understanding with government officials and the private sector, which, if Allah willing, will be a great achievement for Iran and Afghanistan,” said Baradar. The representatives of several other countries such as Russia, Iran, US, Uzbekistan have arrived in Afghanistan to discuss the economic issues with the officials in Kabul.—Tolonews
