Insecurity hinders business growth in Afghanistan-reports ACCI

According to a recent survey conducted by the Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Industries (ACCI) in Balkh, Kabul and Kandahar, security issues remain to be the main cause of lackluster economic activity.

The survey evaluated nine indexes including customs, taxation, biddings, registration and extension of licenses, basic infrastructure, insecurity, status of women and access to financial resources.

ACCI Chairman Mohammad Qurban Haqjo said security and infrastructure were the main issues affecting economic activity in Afghanistan.

Haqjo added that some government bodies have begun taking measures to address the issues.

Da Afghanistan Breshna Sherkat (DABS), Afghanistan’s state-owned electricity company, has plans to improve infrastructure.

“We are working on number of important projects to provide enough electricity to industrial parks,” Tolo News quotes Mirwais Alimi, DABS Chief Commercial Officer. “A 500 kw electricity line would be extended from Turkmenistan and the completion of the CASA 1000 project will help Kabul to get rid of electricity load shedding. It will be completed by 2017.”

Deputy Minister of Commerce and Industries Muzamil Shinwari said his Ministry had formulated comprehensive measures and had discussed issues with the Ministry of Finance.