U.S. to Continue Support for Sustainable Economic Growth in Afghanistan

The United States is committed to working together with the Afghan government to move the economy of Afghanistan forward and will continue to support Afghan small and large businesses, said Ambassador Hugo Llorens in a statement.
Ambassador Hugo Llorens emphasized that Afghanistan has a rich, long history as a nexus for trade and commerce dating back to the Silk Road, but decades of conflict and strife have left the Afghan economy battered, but not without opportunities.
“Afghanistan’s economy is growing now, but still too slowly to create sufficient jobs for young Afghans eagerly looking for work, or enough income for their families,” the statement said.
Llorens in the statement applauds Afghan authorities for their work to exit the Financial Action Task Force “grey list” and encouraged them for further work to fight money laundering and flows to terrorists.
He stressed the importance of the private sector in Afghanistan.
“The reality is that Afghanistan’s economic future depends on the private sector, it depends on the business. No government can “create” prosperity, but governments can facilitate increased trade and investment, which is indispensable to creating good jobs for tens of thousands of Afghans,” the statement said.
Ambassador Llorens expressed optimism and is said to believe that Afghans can reclaim the role that Afghanistan once was a trade leader for centuries.
He further added that the only way to generate long-term sustainable growth in Afghanistan is through less bureaucracy, less corruption, and more private sector investment.