Business
$23 million pharmaceutical company opens in Kabul
The Islamic Emirate officials also stated that while they fully cooperate with pharmaceutical companies, these manufacturers need to produce drugs that meet international standards.

A new pharmaceutical company, costing $20 million, was officially opened on Thursday in Kabul in the presence of Islamic Emirate leaders, including Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar.
The new company will reportedly manufacture 50 different types of drugs once fully operational.
Addressing the launch ceremony on Thursday, Baradar outlined the importance of quality in terms of pharmaceuticals and said poor-quality drugs threaten lives while good-quality medicines can save lives.
Baradar also pointed out that more manufacturing companies like this will help grow the country’s economy.
He once again called on investors, both in the country and abroad, to help in the reconstruction and development of the country and start businesses. He also said the way has been paved for them to invest and that they should make use of the opportunities available.
Health officials meanwhile said that currently there are 77 pharmaceutical companies in the country and that serious efforts are being made to make the country self-sufficient in this regard.
The Islamic Emirate officials also stated that while they fully cooperate with pharmaceutical companies, these manufacturers need to produce drugs that meet international standards.
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Business
Gold holds near record peak as trade jitters buoy safe-haven demand

Gold prices eased on Thursday as the dollar regained some ground, although concerns over the U.S.-China trade war kept the safe-haven bullion close to a record high level hit in the previous session.
Spot gold was 0.4% lower at $2,854.39 per ounce by 0802 GMT, after hitting an all-time peak of $2,882.16 in the previous session, Reuters reported.
U.S. gold futures shed 0.6% to $2,875.
The dollar index , which measures the greenback against six major rivals, was up 0.2%.
"Investors are trying not to miss this rally as they place their position because they are happy with the returns. That's the reason why it's (gold) hitting successive highs," said Soni Kumari, a commodity strategist at ANZ.
"Bullion could hit the $3,000 level soon ... However, what could make the market consolidate will be some clarity on trade ties or easing trade tensions."
On Wednesday, China filed a World Trade Organization complaint against U.S. President Donald Trump's new 10% tariff on Chinese imports.
A trade war between the world's two largest economies could weigh on global growth and drive up inflation, benefiting the bullion further as it is considered a safe investment during economic and geopolitical turmoil.
"The gold bull market looks set to continue under Trump 2.0 with trade wars and geopolitical tensions reinforcing the reserve diversification/de-dollarization trend and supporting EM official sector gold demand," Citi said in a note.
"Global growth concerns are also set to raise ETF and over-the-counter investment demand."
U.S. Federal Reserve officials also pointed to the large policy uncertainty around tariffs and issues arising from the early days of Trump's administration as among the top challenges in figuring out where to take the monetary policy in the months ahead.
Market focus is now on U.S. weekly jobless claims data, due at 1330 GMT, and the non-farm payrolls report on Friday, which could offer insights into the economy's overall strength.
Spot silver dropped 1.3% to $31.91 per ounce, and palladium fell 0.4% to $985.48. Platinum gained 0.2% to $981.74.
Business
US spending of $3.71 billion has had no impact on Afghanistan’s economy: Ministry

The Ministry of Economy in a statement on Saturday responding to a report by the Office of the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR), said the $3.71 billion mentioned by the agency was allocated to international institutions, a large portion of which was used for their own expenses, and the rest designated as humanitarian aid.
SIGAR’s report stated that the US has spent $3.71 billion in Afghanistan over the past three years, but it has had little significant impact on the country’s economic situation.
According to the statement, the Ministry of Economy has urged the international community and countries to release over $9 billion of Afghanistan's foreign reserves, which have been frozen, to the Da Afghanistan Bank (DAB).
The statement stated this would allow the funds to be used for maintaining monetary stability, strengthening the financial system, facilitating trade with the world, and ensuring Afghanistan’s economic stability.
Business
Industry ministry to establish ‘unified union’ for pine nut sector

The Ministry of Industry and Commerce (MoIC) said in a statement on Saturday that a unified union will be established for the pine nut sector to support its development and eliminate unhealthy competition among its members.
According to the statement, acting Minister of Industry and Commerce Nooruddin Azizi met with pine nut traders during a meeting to support and address the challenges faced by the pine nut sector.
In the meeting, discussions focused on the establishment of pine nut processing factories, export issues, supporting sector members, and creating a pine nut market within the country.
Traders also stated that currently, Afghan pine nuts are exported to China, India, and European countries.
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