Business
1,500 Buses to Start Operating in Kabul
The Kabul Municipality has built 264 public bus stations worth millions of Afghanis as an effort to reduce traffic jam in the capital Kabul.
Narges Mohmand, the Spokesperson of Kabul Municipality on Monday told Ariana News that they are awaiting for the Ministry of Transport to allow buses to operate in the City.
“We build bus stations to resolve the problems of Kabul residents and we hope they are going to be used effectively,” Ms. Mohmand said.
An official in the Ministry of Transport said that around 1,500 buses will start their operations in Kabul City in the near future.
“India has promised to provide us with public buses once the construction of stations completed. In addition, India will establish an institute for urban transport,” said Mahdi Rouhani, the Spokesman of Ministry of Transport.
Meanwhile, Mohammad Omar, a resident of Kabul expressed his concern, saying there are no buses in the stations.
“As you see there are no buses in the stations to be used and if it continues the stations will be damaged very soon,” he said.
Officials in the Ministry of Transport said that they have maintenance teams to take care of bus stations; however, they urged residents to stay cooperative.
Business
Russia says Afghanistan was its top flour buyer in 2024
Afghanistan imports flour as it does not have enough production capacity to fully meet domestic demand, Reuters reported.
Afghanistan became the largest importer of Russian flour last year as it doubled purchases, Russia's state agricultural export agency, Agroexport, said late on Friday.
Afghanistan imports flour as it does not have enough production capacity to fully meet domestic demand, Reuters reported.
The increase in imports came as Russia sought to foster ties with Afghanistan's rulers.
Last month, Moscow moved a step closer towards recognising the Islamic Emirate government, with Russia's parliament voting in favour of a law that would make it possible to remove the Islamic Emirate from a list of banned terrorist organisations, read the report.
Agroexport, citing preliminary estimates, said Afghanistan bought Russian flour worth almost $80 million last year, double the 2023 level.
Russia's total wheat and wheat-rye flour exports reached $300 million last year, up 3% year on year in value terms and 7% more by volume, according to the watchdog.
China and Turkmenistan were also in the top three buyers of Russian flour, it said.
Business
China’s first railway consignment arrives in Afghanistan via Iran
China's first railway transit consignment to Afghanistan via Iran, carrying 1,000 tons of iron coil, arrived at Roznak station in Herat province, the Ministry of Public Works said on Friday.
The consignment, which started its journey from China, arrived in Afghanistan via Iran's railway network, Public Works Ministry spokesman Mohammad Ashraf Haqshenas said in a statement.
"The transportation of cargo through this route is an important step in the development of Afghanistan's transit links and connection to open waters and represents progress in the field of regional transport and transit," he said.
Haqshenas added that the completion of the Khaf-Herat railway would offer new potentials for Afghanistan's economy and create a good platform for expanding trade and transit in the region.
Business
Russia is using bitcoin in foreign trade, finance minister says
This year, Russia permitted the use of cryptocurrencies in foreign trade and has taken steps to make it legal to mine cryptocurrencies, including bitcoin.
Russian companies have begun using bitcoin and other digital currencies in international payments following legislative changes that allowed such use in order to counter Western sanctions, Finance Minister Anton Siluanov said on Wednesday.
Sanctions have complicated Russia's trade with its major partners such as China or Turkey, as local banks are extremely cautious with Russia-related transactions to avoid scrutiny from Western regulators, Reuters reported.
This year, Russia permitted the use of cryptocurrencies in foreign trade and has taken steps to make it legal to mine cryptocurrencies, including bitcoin. Russia is one of the global leaders in bitcoin mining.
"As part of the experimental regime, it is possible to use bitcoins, which we had mined here in Russia (in foreign trade transactions)," Siluanov told Russia 24 television channel.
"Such transactions are already occurring. We believe they should be expanded and developed further. I am confident this will happen next year," he said, adding that international payments in digital currencies represent the future.
Earlier this month, President Vladimir Putin said that the current U.S. administration was undermining the role of the U.S dollar as the reserve currency by using it for political purposes, forcing many countries to turn to alternative assets, Reuters reported.
He singled out bitcoin as an example of such assets, saying that no-one in the world could regulate bitcoin. Putin's remarks indicated that the Russian leader backs the extensive use of cryptocurrencies.
-
Regional4 days ago
Iran never plotted to kill Donald Trump, Iranian president says
-
Latest News3 days ago
IEA has provided facilities for industrialists and investors: Baradar
-
Latest News5 days ago
Pakistan’s deputy FM discusses Afghanistan with UN envoy
-
Latest News2 days ago
Pakistani politician Rehman says his country cannot afford war with Afghanistan
-
Latest News3 days ago
Iranian, Tajik presidents discuss Afghanistan in Dushanbe
-
International Sports4 days ago
ILT20: Desert Vipers cruise to six-wicket victory Over Gulf Giants
-
Latest News4 days ago
Russian FM calls for Pakistan, Afghanistan, India cooperation against terrorism
-
Latest News3 days ago
Half a million Afghan children at risk of malnutrition in 2025