New Delhi:
Everyone knows that India gets dry fruits and exquisite carpets from Afghanistan. However, few are aware that the Government of Afghanistan is focusing on re-building the economy and attracting investments in areas such as infrastructure, clean energy, oil and gas, agricultural business, minerals and hydrocarbons among a few.
The Government has created the Afghan Investment Support Agency (AISA) as a one-stop shop to facilitate and promote investments in Afghanistan, and have also established three new industrial parks. Afghanistan issues a business license within three days. The World Bank's Investment Climate Survey of Afghanistan in December 2005 shows that the registration process in Afghanistan is one of the quickest in the world.
Afghanistan has introduced a new constitution, a liberal investment law allowing 100% foreign direct ownership and full repatriation of profits, as well as new laws on banking, customs, anti-money laundering, taxation, minerals and hydrocarbons.
The US Trade & Development Agency has declared Afghanistan as the country of the year for reforming and enhancing business environment in the region. The country provides fast business registration, favourable taxation, and opportunities for investment in all sectors of the economy.
Afghanistan has re-entered the global market and is quickly integrating with the private sector as the driver. More than 3,000 new investment projects have been registered in the country, totaling $1.3 billion with almost half coming from foreign investment. Today, 13 foreign banks are operating in the country.
New opportunities in Afghanistan
Infrastructure:
Building Afghanistan's physical infrastructure and roads has been the first priority of President Karzai. Thanks to United States of America and its friends in Europe, Japan and the region, funding is in place and work is under way to rebuild 3300 km of national highways. With the completion of the reconstruction of roads, all Central Asian capital cities will be less than 32 hours from the Persian Gulf and the Indian Ocean.
Today, Afghanistan is once more playing its historic role in bridging cultures, countries and civilizations. Afghanistan is uniquely located at the heart of Central Asia connecting the region's resourceful countries with profitable emerging markets. The country is in favour of creating trust funds, such as the "Central- South Asian Transport Corridor Fund" to finance regional infrastructure projects and ask neighbours to consider "Border Trading Zones" with Afghanistan.
Energy:
Afghanistan's next greatest priority is energy sector and is looking forward to investments in energy generation and energy transit.
The US Geological Survey has recently completed an assessment of Oil & Gas resources of Afghanistan indicating that country's resource base is significantly greater than previously understood. These new estimates increase oil resources at the north by 18 times to 3.6 million barrels, and more than triple of country's natural gas resources.
Other investment opportunities include minerals, cement, construction materials, carpets, textiles, food processing and agri-business, as well as cold storage, transport and insurance services.
The Government has created the Afghan Investment Support Agency (AISA) as a one-stop shop to facilitate and promote investments in Afghanistan, and have also established three new industrial parks. Afghanistan issues a business license within three days. The World Bank's Investment Climate Survey of Afghanistan in December 2005 shows that the registration process in Afghanistan is one of the quickest in the world.
Afghanistan has introduced a new constitution, a liberal investment law allowing 100% foreign direct ownership and full repatriation of profits, as well as new laws on banking, customs, anti-money laundering, taxation, minerals and hydrocarbons.
The US Trade & Development Agency has declared Afghanistan as the country of the year for reforming and enhancing business environment in the region. The country provides fast business registration, favourable taxation, and opportunities for investment in all sectors of the economy.
Afghanistan has re-entered the global market and is quickly integrating with the private sector as the driver. More than 3,000 new investment projects have been registered in the country, totaling $1.3 billion with almost half coming from foreign investment. Today, 13 foreign banks are operating in the country.
New opportunities in Afghanistan
Infrastructure:
Building Afghanistan's physical infrastructure and roads has been the first priority of President Karzai. Thanks to United States of America and its friends in Europe, Japan and the region, funding is in place and work is under way to rebuild 3300 km of national highways. With the completion of the reconstruction of roads, all Central Asian capital cities will be less than 32 hours from the Persian Gulf and the Indian Ocean.
Today, Afghanistan is once more playing its historic role in bridging cultures, countries and civilizations. Afghanistan is uniquely located at the heart of Central Asia connecting the region's resourceful countries with profitable emerging markets. The country is in favour of creating trust funds, such as the "Central- South Asian Transport Corridor Fund" to finance regional infrastructure projects and ask neighbours to consider "Border Trading Zones" with Afghanistan.
Energy:
Afghanistan's next greatest priority is energy sector and is looking forward to investments in energy generation and energy transit.
The US Geological Survey has recently completed an assessment of Oil & Gas resources of Afghanistan indicating that country's resource base is significantly greater than previously understood. These new estimates increase oil resources at the north by 18 times to 3.6 million barrels, and more than triple of country's natural gas resources.
Other investment opportunities include minerals, cement, construction materials, carpets, textiles, food processing and agri-business, as well as cold storage, transport and insurance services.
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