The Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, Al-Haj Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar Akhund, inaugurated the Fourth National and International Industry Week Exhibition at the Afghanistan International Exhibition Center in Kabul.
Al-Haj Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar Akhund called industry the cornerstone of national development and said, "Today we see countries which, through the power of the industrial revolution, have developed their infrastructure, eliminated unemployment, and exported their products to good markets."
The Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs explained that Industry Week is not merely a symbolic naming; instead, it is a movement, a change, and an unwavering determination. He emphasized that it is crucial for Afghanistan to move from an import-based economy to a productive, export-based, and self-sufficient one.
Al-Haj Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar Akhund stated that after the establishment of the Islamic Emirate, significant gains were made in the industrial sector. Around 1,500 new factories were opened, providing full-time jobs to nearly 70,000 citizens. Afghanistan has become self-sufficient in 138 industrial and production sectors. This step is not only a milestone in eradicating unemployment but also provides a pillar for economic growth and stability.
The Deputy Prime Minister announced that the Islamic Emirate has set as a strategic plan, the development of industrial parks in various provinces for the sake of promoting industrialization. Industrialists are to be granted land ownership documents in the industrial parks in the near future. The purpose of these parks is to have a favorable condition for production and to provide employment opportunities for thousands of citizens.
Al-Haj Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar Akhund clarified that, for the promotion of the private sector, the Islamic Emirate has increased custom tariffs on foreign products to boost local production. Moreover, all institutions of the Emirate have been directed to give priority to the purchase of national products even if their quality is a little lesser than the foreign ones.
During the ceremony of the Fourth National and International Industry Week Exhibition, the Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs clarified that the restoration of the Islamic Emirate to power has paved the way for a good investment opportunities in the country. Today, local investors as well as international investors have been actively investing in all fields, including electricity, mining, agriculture, industry, transport, infrastructure, telecommunications, health, and others, with many facilities being provided to them.
The Deputy Prime Minister commended industrialists as one of the key driving forces of national economy development and thanked them for their efforts and innovations in the industry.
While addressing the industrialists, Al-Haj Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar Akhund repeated: "If you ensure quality, price, and quantity in your production, I can promise you on this platform that, in the interest of local production, we will raise tariffs on such imported goods to the level of national self-sufficiency."
It is noteworthy that Fourth National and International Industry Week Exhibition has been organized with a view to highlighting the capacity, capability, and achievements of the industrial sector of the country. Scores of local businesses have exhibited their industrial products and agricultural produces in different fields, such as food, medicine, dairy products, building materials, handicrafts, carpets, plastic, bottle industry, iron smelting, and many more. The exhibition will continue for one week.
