Business

SIGAR issues pessimistic economic forecast for Afghanistan

Published

5 years ago

February 20, 2022

Afghanistan’s economy suffered severe contraction in 2021, with the UN Development Programme (UNDP) and IMF estimating up to a 20–30 percent drop, the US Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR) reported.

According to SIGAR’s latest report, annual per capita income is estimated to have fallen from $650 in 2012, to $500 in 2020, and is expected to drop to $350 by 2022.

SIGAR stated that male unemployment in Afghanistan may nearly double from 15.2 percent in 2019 to 29 percent by 2022.

“In the worst-case scenario modeled by the Asian Development Bank, unemployment could increase by more than 40 percent in the short run and household consumption could contract by 44 percent,” read the report.

The devaluation of the afghani has also impacted the Afghan economy and further diminished Afghan households’ ability to purchase food and
other necessary items, because much foreign trade was settled in US dollars.

Since August last year, the afghani has depreciated against the US dollar, from approximately 77 afghani to the dollar to around 105 as of January
2, 2022.

SIGAR also reported that adding to the pressure on the country’s limited cash reserves, Afghanistan lacks the technical capabilities to print its own currency.
According to SIGAR, the IEA has not yet secured or developed a domestic printing source for afghani banknotes.

SIGAR reported that Afghanistan’s largely cash-based economy has continued to struggle with an acute cash shortage since November, which has limited day-to-day economic activities.

“Banks are at the center of a liquidity crisis, with lost access to international financing and depositors attempting to recover their funds,” read the report.

According to a UNDP report, Afghanistan’s banking system is in “existential crisis.” Total deposits had fallen to the equivalent of $2 billion as of
September 2021 from $2.8 billion the month.

As the Afghan economy has struggled to find areas of sustainable economic growth in recent years, the country has increasingly relied on remittances from Afghans working abroad, especially in neighboring Iran.

By 2019, remittances accounted for the equivalent of 4.3 percent of Afghanistan’s annual GDP, an increase from 1.2 percent in 2014, according to World Bank data.

However, officials from the UN’s International Organization for Migration estimate this figure could have been as high as 15–20 percent, given that many remittances are sent through the informal hawala money-transfer system.

According to officials at Médecins Sans Frontières, with the absence of a functioning banking sector, many NGOs have also been forced to rely on
hawalas to pay expenses within Afghanistan.

In November 2021, the IEA announced a complete ban on the use of foreign currency in Afghanistan, interfering with remittance activities and
worsening the country’s liquidity crisis.

However, SIGAR reported that indicators suggest that the currency ban is not being actively enforced against the US dollar, which continues to be widely used in Afghan markets.

Related Topics:#Income featured peace SIGAR

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$30 million pharmaceutical investment launched in Herat as new production line opens

Meanwhile, the newly inaugurated serum and injectable production line is capable of producing up to 100,000 packages of serum per day.

Published

15 hours ago

November 10, 2026

Ariana News

The foundation stone has been laid for three new pharmaceutical production blocks at Ovison Pharma in Herat, with an investment of $30 million, while the factory’s new serum and injectable production line has also been inaugurated.

The new production blocks will be constructed on a 3,000-square-metre site, with each facility planned to have five floors. Equipped with advanced machinery and designed to meet international standards, the expansion is expected to significantly increase the factory’s pharmaceutical production capacity.

Meanwhile, the newly inaugurated serum and injectable production line is capable of producing up to 100,000 packages of serum per day.

The expansion marks a significant step toward strengthening Afghanistan’s pharmaceutical industry, increasing domestic production and reducing the country’s reliance on imported medicines.

The investment is also expected to support the development of local manufacturing capacity and improve access to domestically produced pharmaceutical products.

Business

Afghanistan approves new foreign investment policy in bid to attract international investors

The decisions have been forwarded to the office of the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Emirate for final approval.

Published

2 days ago

November 9, 2026

Ariana News

Afghanistan’s Economic Commission has approved a new foreign investment policy aimed at attracting international investors, improving investment opportunities and supporting the country’s economic growth.

The decision was made during the commission’s regular meeting, chaired by Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs, at the Marble Palace on Monday.

According to the Deputy Prime Minister’s Office for Economic Affairs, the proposed policy was presented by a committee established under the leadership of the economic deputy office. Following a comprehensive review and consideration of the commission’s recommendations, the policy was approved.

The policy aims to regulate foreign investment activities, facilitate investment procedures, create a favourable environment for investors, ensure investment security and promote Afghanistan’s economic growth and development.

During the meeting, the commission also approved a proposal concerning the payment of fixed taxes by commercial import companies at the country’s customs offices.

Officials said implementing the proposal would create additional facilities and simplify procedures for importing businesses.

The decisions have been forwarded to the office of the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Emirate for final approval.

Business

Afghanistan and Iran discuss boosting trade and investment ties

Both sides agreed to follow up on the issues raised, improve coordination between relevant economic institutions and work towards removing barriers to trade.

Published

3 days ago

November 8, 2026

Ariana News

Afghanistan and Iran have held talks on expanding bilateral trade, improving cross-border commerce and creating new investment opportunities for businesses in both countries.

The discussions took place during a meeting between a trade delegation from Afghanistan’s Kandahar province and representatives of the Iran-Afghanistan Joint Chamber of Commerce.

The Afghan delegation was led by Kamaluddin Tawhid, Chairman of the Afghanistan-Iran Joint Chamber of Commerce, who met with his Iranian counterpart, Mahmoud Seyadat, along with members of the chamber’s board of directors. Afghanistan’s Consul General in Mashhad, Noor Mohammad Mutawakkil, also attended.

The talks focused on strengthening economic cooperation, streamlining trade procedures at ports and border crossings, and encouraging joint investment by Afghan and Iranian companies.

Participants also raised several practical obstacles affecting commercial activities, including foreign exchange obligations, visa arrangements for Afghan truck drivers and the movement of Afghan freight vehicles through Iranian territory.

Tawhid highlighted Kandahar’s economic potential and investment opportunities across Afghanistan, urging Iranian businesses to play a greater role in the country’s economy.

He also pointed to investment opportunities identified by Afghanistan’s Ministry of Industry and Commerce, stressing the need for improved facilities for private-sector businesses and closer cooperation between the two countries’ commercial communities.

Both sides agreed to follow up on the issues raised, improve coordination between relevant economic institutions and work towards removing barriers to trade.

The meeting concluded with a commitment to strengthen commercial exchanges and expand trade and investment relations between Afghanistan and Iran.