Investors ask govt to resolve their problems

BAMYAN CITY (PAN): Participants of a two-day conference, attended by Afghan and international investors in central Bamyan province, on Tuesday asked the government to resolve their problems.

A lack of electricity, airports and proper roads were identified as serious problems facing investors, the Afghanistan Chambers of Commerce and Industries (ACCI) head said.

Improved security in the province encouraged entrepreneurs to invest in Bamyan, Qurban Ali Haqjo said, adding the event was jointly organised by ACCI, Afghanistan Investment Support Agency (AISA), USAID and United Nations Office for Project Services(UNOPS).

Bamyan Governor Habiba Sohrabi assured investors that their concerns would be addressed and local officials would try their best to help them.

A hundred investors, 25 of them from America, Britain, Italy, Austria, Germany, Japan, Saudi Arabia, Australia and other countries, took part in the conference, she said.

The director of information and culture blamed the central government for lukewarm cooperation with investors in Bamyan. “The government in Kabul has held out promises of constructing roads and industrial parks, but nothing has been done so far,” Mohammad Ibrahim Akbari said.

Participants, who discussed investment challenges today, would present plans for the promotion of tourism in the province on Wednesday, the governor said.

Bamyan is famous for historical places and monuments, including Buddha statues, Band-i-Amir and ancient cities of Ghalghala, Dhahak, Nagin, Chhil Burj and others.

Bamyan’s Tourism revenue, which stood at $400,000 (18.4 million afghanis) in 2010, has almost doubled this year. Last year, 41,000 Afghan and 600 foreign tourists visited the province.

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