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Over 50,000 business licenses issued to women entrepreneurs in one year, says Azizi
The Ministry of Industry and Commerce (MoIC) announced on Saturday that Afghanistan’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) has grown by 2.7 percent over the past year, and during this period, more than 50,000 business licenses have been issued to women entrepreneurs.
During the ministry’s annual accountability report held at the Government Media and Information Center (GMIC), Acting Minister of Industry and Commerce Nooruddin Azizi said: “To bring Afghanistan’s imports and exports closer together, the only path we found was through Afghan industry. The industrial sector holds significant programs, including job creation.”
Officials from the ministry emphasized that over the past year, more than 26,000 business licenses have been issued to companies, of which 5,000 were granted to women-owned businesses.
“Just among women, 5,000 licenses have been registered and issued through the Ministry of Industry — and this number has increased even more. Through the small business licenses issued to all women entrepreneurs, the total exceeds 50,000,” added Azizi.
Meanwhile, some officials from the ministry pointed to a 50 percent increase in investment attraction compared to previous years.
Sebghatullah Akhundzada, head of Investment Promotion and Support at the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, said: “Compared to previous years, a significant amount of investment has been attracted. Last year alone, nearly 28 billion Afghanis in investment was brought in through the Ministry of Industry and Commerce.”
Meanwhile, Nooruddin Azizi also announced plans for the coming year, including 10 percent increase in GDP, a 25 percent boost in export levels, the creation of 100,000 job opportunities and attraction of $500 million in investment.
Afghanistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has condemned the deadly bombing at a cafe in the Syrian capital, Damascus, that killed at least nine people and injured 20 others.
In a statement issued by Foreign Ministry spokesman Abdul Qahar Balkhi, the Islamic Emirate described the attack as a violation of Islamic and humanitarian values, saying attacks targeting civilians are unacceptable.
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan strongly condemns the attack on a cafe in the capital of the Syrian Arab Republic, Damascus, which resulted in the martyrdom and injury of several civilians,” the statement said.
The ministry added that such incidents pose a serious challenge to Syria’s security and stability.
According to Syrian authorities, the blast occurred on Thursday at a cafe near the Palace of Justice in central Damascus. The Interior Ministry said a crudely made explosive device weighing about one kilogram and packed with metal shrapnel caused the explosion, killing nine people and wounding 20 others.
No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack.
Afghanistan’s Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi met with Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Thursday in Tehran during an official visit.
According to Iranian media reports, the two diplomats discussed bilateral relations, recent regional developments, and issues of mutual interest.
Mullah Mohammad Hassan Akhund, Prime Minister of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA), has inspected the construction work of the second lane of the Kabul–Jalalabad highway, Arg said on Thursday.
According to Arg’s statement , the Prime Minister visited the project site earlier in the day and expressed appreciation for the efforts of the Ministry of Public Works, project officials, and private contracting companies involved in the construction process. He also issued directives for the timely and high-quality completion of the project.
Akhund said the completion of the highway would significantly improve transportation facilities, transit operations, passenger movement, and contribute to economic growth in the surrounding regions.
Officials report that construction work on the second section of the project, covering 32 kilometers from the Kabul side, is currently about 20 percent complete.
Meanwhile, work on the first 22-kilometer section from the Nangarhar side is also ongoing. Surveying and design work for the third section is being carried out by a private company, with construction expected to begin after completion of the preparatory phase.
The Kabul–Jalalabad second-lane highway is regarded as one of Afghanistan’s key transport and economic infrastructure projects and is being developed in three phases.
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