KABUL - Addressing a local products expo in Kabul on Saturday, President Ashraf Ghani said government must support the local products and improve the trade balance in the country.
“People’s live will not change unless we improve the trade balance of Afghanistan. One third of our people sleep with empty stomachs every night,” Ghani said.
He said to reach the goal, the private sector and government should work together to improve the country’s economy.
“The private sector and industries in Afghanistan are two cooperative sectors with each other. We will be reliant on others unless we have industries. Cooperation means that government has the responsibility to support the industries and the domestic products,” he said.
Ghani said lack of coordination between government and the private sector has resulted that Afghanistan annually imports goods worth $1.5 billion USD.
He reiterated that Afghanistan should turn into an exporter country in the future.
Last week, investors said they are faced with lack of electricity and that the problem has affected the domestic products.
In response to these complaints, Ghani vowed to overcome lack of electricity in the near future.
“The issue of power shortage will be resolved within the upcoming two years. Afghanistan will be self-reliant in terms of providing power within the coming four years," Ghani said.
He added: “We will address insecurity and we will eliminate land grabbing. We will rule the law on those who thought they will not be held accountable.”
More than 100 local companies attended in the three-day expo which kicked off last week on Tuesday.
The Ministry of Commerce and Industries held the National Industry Expo under the brand “It is Great, It is Made in Afghanistan”.
The event was aimed at introducing the local products and finding markets for them. (Tolonews)