The Ministry of Industry and Commerce announced that an expo of Afghanistan’s domestic products will open on Tuesday in the Uzbekistan capital Tashkent.

The ministry said in a statement that the expo will be held under the Islamic Emirate’s economic policies and it aims to strengthen and expand economic, trade, transit, and investment relations between Afghanistan and Central Asian countries, market the country’s products in foreign markets, provide the necessary facilities for the private sector and strengthen business activities abroad.

The event will be attended by 250 industrialists and traders from Afghanistan, who will showcase carpets, handicrafts, precious and semi-precious stones, dried fruits, soft drinks, pressure cookers, and other Afghan products for three days.

The Ministry of Industry and Commerce added that a business forum and talks among private sector representatives will also be held on the sidelines of the expo.

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The Ministry of Commerce and Industry says the acting minister has ordered the installation of scanners at the country’s border crossings that deal with imports and exports.

According to a newsletter published by the ministry, the issue was discussed at the first meeting of the leadership committee of the private sector support fund.

Nooruddin Azizi, the acting minister of commerce and industry, said at the meeting that the scanners need to be purchased and installed at land ports to facilitate the import and export of goods.

In this meeting, there was a discussion about the financing mechanism and ways to spend the private sector support fund. Issues around collecting customs fees for imports and exports were also discussed as was the need to open a bank account for the fund.

A decision was also taken to introduce permanent members of the support fund to the leadership committee.

In conclusion, the ministry stated that the financing mechanism and the method of spending of the private sector support fund have been finalized.

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Acting Minister of Industry and Commerce Nooruddin Azizi on Monday announced that a law pertaining to industrial parks has been ratified by the Islamic Emirate’s supreme leader and the process of distributing land to the private sector will begin soon.

“This is good news for the private sector,” Azizi said, speaking at an event in Kabul to discuss the private sector’s challenges and opportunities. “Allah willing, land distribution will start in the future. About 600 applicants want to establish factories in different zones.”

Azizi asked the United Nations to consider fundamental works and investment in large and incomplete projects in Afghanistan and to solve Afghanistan’s banking problems with the international community.

He said that humanitarian aid is not the solution to Afghanistan’s problems.

“It is not support that we gather here, take pictures and send it to the international community. We have to provide fundamental support,” Azizi said.

Indrika Ratwatte, Deputy Special Representative in the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), said that Afghanistan should move towards self-sufficiency and stand on its own feet.

He said that the private sector plays a crucial role in this regard.

The representatives of the private sector also emphasized the importance of investment on large and infrastructure projects by the United Nations in Afghanistan. They asked the United Nations to address the country’s banking problems.

“Our banking problems should be addressed. Regarding money transfers, $100,000 is transferred at a cost of $200 in neighboring countries, but it costs $2,000 in Afghanistan. We also need full cooperation in the area of small loans,” said Yunus Momand, the deputy of the Chamber of Commerce and Investment.

The officials of the Ministry of Industry and Commerce also announced at the event that they have distributed licenses to around 1,000 private companies.

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