Industrialists expect more investment

KABUL Association of Industrialists (AAI) on Saturday expressed optimism the unity government would attract more foreign investment.

Abdul Jabbar Safi, the AAI deputy head, said the country had attained self-reliance in 22 products and would achieve more milestones if the incoming government paid special attention to the economy.

He told a press conference in Kabul that currently some 245, 000 people were working in five industrial parks across the country.

He named industries producing beverages, plastic products, marbles, dairy products, furniture and others having achieved self-reliance.

Safi noted that the lack of a comprehensive economic policy, little coordination among various economic sectors, problems in giving loans to industrialists and the lack of skilled workforce were reasons why the country remained heavily reliant on imports.

Land has been allocated for five more industrial parks, he said, adding that these parks would have the capacity to create jobs for 500, 000 workers and attract an investment amounting to 6 billion dollars.

The industrialists are optimistic that the political deal between Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai and Abdullah Abdullah would pave the ground for foreign investment in the country.

Safi urged the government to reduce electricity tariff for the industry, establish economic development banks and encourage buying of domestic products.

Ministry of Interior spokesman Siddique Siddiqui on the occasion said the government would ensure security of all industrial parks and would also pay special to industrialists’ demands.

sks/ma

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