Business

IEA will start a national self-sufficiency programme: commerce minister

Published

3 years ago

January 3, 2023

The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) will encourage self-sufficiency and wants international trade and investment, the commerce minister said, as Afghanistan faces isolation and suspension of some humanitarian operations over restrictions on women, Reuters reported.

“We will start a national self-sufficiency programme, we will encourage all government administrations to use domestic products, we will also try to encourage people through mosques to support our domestic products” Nooruddin Azizi told Reuters. “We will support any item which can help us for self-sufficiency.”

Another part of their strategy was to boost trade and foreign investment, he said.

“Those who were importing items to Afghanistan from abroad, they are asking us to provide opportunities for investing in Afghanistan and they want to invest here instead of importing from abroad,” Azizi said.

He said that countries including Iran, Russia and China were interested in trade and investment. He said some of the projects under discussion were Chinese industrial parks and thermal power plants, with involvement from Russia and Iran.

Already facing a lack of formal recognition and sanctions hampering the country’s banking sector, investors are faced with growing security concerns, Reuters reported.

Azizi said authorities were working to ensure security.

“We do our best for our businessmen to not come to harm. The attack hasn’t had any bad impact, (but) if it happened constantly, yes it might have bad impact,” he said, referring to the investment environment.

Azizi laid out a plan to develop industry by creating special economic zones on land previously used for U.S. military bases. He said his ministry was presenting the plan to the administration’s cabinet and economic commission, Reuters reported.

He added that foreign investors were showing interest in Afghanistan’s mining sector, which has been valued at more than $1 trillion. He said that an iron mine in western Herat and a lead mine in central Ghor province had seen 40 companies take part in an auction and that the results would be announced soon.

He said that a major contract signed with Russia in September for the supply of gas, oil and wheat would see the delivery of the items to Afghanistan in coming days.

The IEA is facing increased isolation over policies in recent days restricting women from access to public life, including attending university.

An order barring female NGO workers has thrown the humanitarian sector, which is providing urgent aid to millions of people, into disarray, with some organizations suspending operations in the middle of the harsh winter.

Azizi did not comment on the new restrictions but said his ministry had allocated 5 acres of land for a permanent exhibition center and hub for women-led businesses.

“We always support women investors,” he said.

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Business

Ariana Afghan Airlines boost air trade with arrival of new cargo aircraft

The Ariana Afghan Airlines press office says this achievement marks an important stride toward strengthening national trade and promoting Afghanistan’s path to economic self-reliance.

Published

1 day ago

December 5, 2025

Ariana News

Ariana Afghan Airlines has announced a major development in the country’s air-transport sector, confirming that a long-awaited charter cargo aircraft has been officially contracted and will arrive in Afghanistan soon. The move is being hailed as a “significant and facilitative breakthrough” for national traders.

Bakht-ur-Rahman Sharafat, the head of Ariana Afghan Airlines, says the finalization of this contract reflects the leadership’s firm commitment to supporting Afghanistan’s growing trade sector. “This new cargo aircraft is part of Ariana’s broader plan to strengthen exports and provide fast, reliable, and competitive air-transport services for Afghan traders,” Sharafat stated.

According to Ariana officials, the addition of the new cargo aircraft will greatly enhance commercial air-transport services. It is expected to ensure timely delivery of goods, reduce transportation costs, and significantly increase the country’s export capacity.

Economic experts believe this step will not only offer substantial facilities to traders but will also play a key role in Afghanistan’s economic development and the expansion of its export markets.

Ariana’s leadership says the cargo aircraft will open new avenues for accelerating and securing the movement of both export and import goods, while fostering healthy competition within the nation’s aviation sector.

The Ariana Afghan Airlines press office says this achievement marks an important stride toward strengthening national trade and promoting Afghanistan’s path to economic self-reliance.

Business

IEA demands assurances from Islamabad before trade routes reopen

Mujahid noted that Afghanistan is currently meeting its essential import needs through a range of regional partners, and therefore will not rush to resume commerce with Pakistan without clear assurances.

Published

2 days ago

December 4, 2025

Ariana News

The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) has said that the reopening of trade and transit routes with Pakistan will depend on Islamabad providing firm guarantees that these corridors will not again be used as instruments of political pressure.

In a statement released on social media, IEA spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid accused Pakistan of having “illegally and politically” closed key border routes in recent months, a move he said caused “serious harm to the people on both sides of the Durand Line.”

He said the IEA wants trade to take place in a “dignified and mutually beneficial” manner and made clear that any reopening will require Islamabad to commit to keeping commercial corridors free from political interference.

“Trade routes with Pakistan will only be reopened once strong assurances are received from the Pakistani government,” he said, adding that the guarantees must ensure Pakistan cannot again weaponise transit access or disrupt legitimate trade.

According to the IEA, the priority is to safeguard traders’ rights, stabilise cross-border transit, and ensure that the economic needs of the population are not influenced by political disputes.

The IEA said any step toward reopening the routes must be built on mutual respect and a long-term commitment to cooperation.

Business

Ariana Airlines deepens cooperation with Turkish Airlines

Both sides agreed to form joint technical and operational teams to advance cooperation and strengthen the regional air transport network.

Published

4 days ago

December 2, 2025

Ariana News

Ariana Afghan Airlines and Turkish Airlines have moved to strengthen their aviation partnership following a high-level meeting between Ariana CEO Bakht-ur-Rahman Sharafat and Turkish Airlines CEO Bilal Ekşi.

According to Ariana Afghan Airlines, the discussions centered on expanding air transport connectivity, improving passenger and cargo services, and increasing the exchange of technical and operational expertise between the two carriers.

Sharafat praised Turkish Airlines for its global reach and operational standards, noting that the airline’s experience could play a vital role in enhancing air travel, trade, and tourism between Afghanistan and Turkey.

Ekşi commended Ariana’s recent improvements and said Turkish Airlines would support capacity-building initiatives, including technical training, aircraft maintenance, and operational enhancement programs.

Both sides agreed to form joint technical and operational teams to advance cooperation and strengthen the regional air transport network. The move marks a significant step toward deeper aviation collaboration between the two countries.