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Will WTO membership help improve the economy of Afghanistan?

Precarious security situation and corruption are two of the main impediments to economic growth in Afghanistan Afghanistan, one of the poorest countries in the world, has joined the WTO. The country hopes greater access to global markets will lay the foundation for economic growth, but instability still poses major problems. On Friday 29 of July 2016, Afghanistan became the 164th country to join the World Trade Organization (WTO). after its upper house of parliament passed a final handful of laws that were required as preconditions for membership. Afghanistan, one of the poorest countries in the world, first applied for WTO membership in 2004. It is rich in mineral resources such as copper, chromium and iron, and precious stones like lapis lazuli, but pervasive extremist violence in the country discourages investment. Afghan officials say the WTO membership will help their country "strengthen its rule of law, establish transparency and lay the foundations for healthy econo

В районе Касаба афганской столицы в ближайшие недели будет сдан в эксплуатацию жилой комплекс "Аль Касаба"

Проект, стоимость US$ 180M, состоит из 110 блоков и около 3 тыс. квартир. Он был реализован при финансовой поддержке Абу-Даби (столица ОАЭ) и включает, помимо домов, строительство всей необходимой инфраструктуры: дорог, школ, поликлиник, парков, систем водоснабжения и канализации. Проект был начат в 2012 году, благодаря нему временные рабочие места смогли получить более 4 тыс. жителей Кабула и близлежащих районов.

Too many contracts in Afghanistan awarded to unqualified companies

The President of Afghanistan Ashraf Ghani cancels contracts of 3 dams citing progress, quality issues President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani has cancelled the contracts for 3 dams and has ordered the Ministry of Energy and Water to launch a new and speedy process for the completion of the remaining works of the dams.  The Administrative Office of the President (AOP) said the contracts for the construction of Almar, Machalgho and Pashdan were previously awarded.However AOP said the contracts works had turned into an issue due to work progress and quality of the works.According to a statement by AOP, the contractors of the mentioned dams will also be fined and the Ministry of Energy and Water and the Ministry of Finance were instructed to resolve the issue of the residents Pashdan dam.In the meantime the National Procurement Commission approved 6 contracts worth 490 million AFN which include the modification of second turbine installation for Kajaki dam, procurement of 1 million passports for

Afghanistan suspends bidding on magnetite and marble stone mines in Kandahar due to deteriorating security situation

Kandahar Governor Dr. Humayun Azizi announced on Tuesday that the bidding process and contract signing for two precious stone mines have been suspended due to insecurity in the area. Addressing a weekly meeting with the government officials and Provincial Council members, Dr. Azizi said the contract and bidding process for magnetite stone mine in Khakrez district and marble stone mine in the Shah Walikot district were suspended due to deteriorating security situation. He assured that work on the projects would resume as soon as law and order was restored. Meanwhile, Mine and Petroleum Director Eng. Khan Aqa said a ten-year contract of fluorite mine, situated in Nesh district of southern Kandahar, had been signed. According to sources, Kandahar is home for 30 deposits of different natural resources such as fluorite, chromites, gold, marble, iron, magnetite, zing, coal and highly precious and semi-precious stones. >>> READ ORIGINAL ARTICLE

International Monetary Fund approves a $45 million Extended Credit Facility Arrangement to support Afghanistan

The Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) approved a three-year Extended Credit Facility (ECF) arrangement for the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan for US$44.9 million to help raise growth by consolidating progress on the macroeconomic and structural fronts and catalyzing continued support from donors. Following the Board’s decision, about US$6.2 million is available for immediate disbursement; the remaining amount will be phased in over the duration of the program, subject to semi-annual reviews. Following the Board discussion, Mr. Mitsuhiro Furusawa, Deputy Managing Director and Acting Chair, made the following statement: “Afghanistan is undergoing a difficult political, security, and economic transition. Against this background, the authorities’ successful completion of the 2015 staff-monitored program has provided the needed track record for a financial arrangement with the Fund. The authorities’ program supported under the Fund’s Extended Credit Facility aims

В провинции Кабул реализуют новые сельскохозяйственные проекты

Министерство сельского хозяйства ИРА реализует в 14 уездах провинции Кабул новые сельскохозяйственные проекты.   Проекты стоимостью около USD 400,000 профинансируют из бюджета министерства. Планируется, в частности, обеспечить ирригацию более 600 гектаров сельхозугодий, а также расширить выращивание шафрана. Кроме того, планируется построить новый ирригационный канал в уезде Шакар Дара и отремонтировать ряд имеющихся. Благодаря новым проектам до 13,000 местных жителей смогут получить временные рабочие места.

Hundreds of thousands of Hazara people in the streets of Kabul to protest against chosen route for 500kV TUTAP power project

A major demonstration has kicked off in Kabul city this morning July 23 to protest against the implementation of a massive power project, 500kV TUTAP project through Salang pass. The demonstration has been organized by Enlightening Movement which has been formed to protest against the implementation of the project which was originally planned through Bamyan province. Hundreds of thousands of people gathered in Mazari square in the West of Kabul city to start their rally. The Enlightening Movement is saying that the women, elder men, and youths have taken part in the rally as it calls on the rally participants to keep the city clean. This comes as the Office of the Second Vice President earlier said the demonstration has been cancelled after the government reached to an agreement with the movement to hold further talks on the issue. This is the second the movement has been organizing large demonstration in Kabul city in the past two months. The Afghan government decided to halt the

Afghan brothers invented a mine-hunting drone

Former refugees Massoud and Mahmud Hassani stunned the world three years ago with an invention like a dandelion puffball that sought to rid the world of landmines. Now the Afghan brothers are back with their latest creation: a low-cost drone to detect and destroy mines, which each year claim thousands of lives. Ridding the world of their childhood horror has become the life work of the Hassanis, who now live in the Netherlands. In 2013, they won worldwide acclaim for the "mine kafon" - a giant ball shaped like a dandelion-seed head that rolls around with the wind, its plastic stalks tripping landmines in the process. Inspired by their childhood toys, the kafon - short for "kafondan" which in the Hassanis' native Dari language means "something that explodes" - drew high praise from anti-landmine organisations. Flying blue octopus Now their latest mine-hunting device combines drone technology, 3D printing and robotics with a metal detector to find

В Нью-Дели прошла выставка афганских товаров

Более сорока афганских компаний представили свою продукцию на выставке 'Made in Afghanistan', которая прошла в Нью-Дели. Участники мероприятия представили свежие фрукты и сухофрукты, шафран, орехи, изделия из оникса и мрамора, драгоценных и полудрагоценных камней, а также разнообразные изделия ручной работы. Как заявил министр сельского хозяйства Афганистана, выставка поможет афганским производителям завязать нужные контакты с тем, чтобы поставлять в Индию свои товары. В Индии высоко ценят качественный афганский гранаты, орехи, гранаты, абрикосы, изюм и яблоки. Индия является вторым по объёму импортёром афганской продукции после Пакистана.

Kabul Municipality and IFC launch efficient construction permit system

IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, has helped Afghanistan’s Kabul Municipality develop a simpler, more efficient construction permit system that has significantly cut red tape and processing times, and increased private investment in the city’s construction sector. The initiative, the result of a partnership between IFC and Kabul Municipality signed in 2014, is designed to spur much-needed construction in the Afghan capital. Funded by the United States Agency for International Development, it has helped modernize the construction permit system, providing new software and training for staff. Kabul also opened a one-stop shop where prospective builders can go to obtain construction permits. The project’s progress was marked at a ceremony attended by Kabul’s acting Mayor and other officials earlier this month. “We are committed to creating the right enabling environment for the construction permit process and implementing the city’s development plans,” said, Abdullah Jan Habibzai, Kab

В афганской провинции Кандагар ожидается хороший урожай винограда

Бизнесмены провинции Кандагар объявили, что, судя по всему, провинция экспортирует не менее 40 тыс. тонн винограда в текущем году. Несмотря на то, что сбор урожая только начинается, около 50 тонн винограда из провинции уже экспортируют в Пакистан ежедневно. В течение ближайших дней это количество может возрасти до 200 тонн в сутки. Афганский виноград мог бы быть востребован в странах Европы и Азии, однако из-за недостатка возможностей грузоперевозки приходится продавать его в соседний Пакистан.

Pakistan worried as Afghanistan decided to build 12 dams on Kabul River

Pakistani officials are worried amid reports that the Afghan government is planning to build water dams on Kabul River. The country’s Ministry of Water and Power has said Pakistan is willing to sign a water treaty with Afghanistan. “We have held many brainstorming sessions at the ministry on this particular issue after receiving credible reports about Afghanistan’s plans to build dams on Kabul River,” a ministry official quoted by local newspaper, The News, said. The official further added that “Some of Pakistan’s ambassadors appointed in various capitals have taken up this issue with the officials of the ministry and sometimes the Foreign Office also agitated this issue.” According to the paper, the ministry had asked many agencies to initiate the process for formulating a water information share mechanism with Afghanistan. Being the low riparian, Pakistan has the right to have the data of water flows in Kabul River in the vicinity of Afghanistan, the ministry said. Earlier the pap

Afghanistan to become member of the World Trade Organization

Afghanistan will become the 164th member of the World Trade Organization (WTO) on July 29th of this year, 30 days after the Protocol of Accession was ratified by the Afghan Parliament. WTO members officially approved Afghanistan’s accession at the Tenth Ministerial Conference in Nairobi on December 17, 2015 and the Protocol of Accession was signed between Afghanistan’s First Deputy Chief Executive Mohammad Khan Rahmani and Director-General Roberto Azevedo. Afghanistan is the 36th government and the ninth least-developed country (LDC) to join the WTO following accession negotiations since the WTO was established in 1995. Liberia, also an LDC, will meanwhile become the 163rd WTO member on 14 July. LDCs represent a fifth of the WTO membership.

The Governments of India and Afghanistan agreed additional 87 projects under the Small Development Projects (SDP)

Afghan and Indian governments signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for additional 87 projects worth USD 25mn under the Small Development Projects (SDP). A significant part of India’s development portfolio in Afghanistan has been a special program to foster community-based Small Development Projects (SDP) in the fields of education, health, rural development, agriculture and vocational training that can have a direct and visible impact on community life. SDP scheme started in 2005 with an initial budget of USD 20,000,000. Under this, more than 100 projects were approved and a majority have already been completed. In 2012, the Government of India provided an additional sum of USD100M for the SDP scheme, also extending it across all 34 provinces of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan. The agreement on the additional 87 projects was signed between the Embassy of India in Kabul and the Afghan Ministry of Economy in the presence of the CEO of Afghanistan Dr. Abdullah Abdullah.

Доходы Афганистана за первые шесть месяцев 2016 возросли на 36%

Министерство финансов ИРА сообщает о том, что за первое финансовое полугодие доходы страны возросли на 36% и составили 38,6 млрд. афгани, или USD 560,000,000. Рост доходов был достигнут не только и не столько за счёт налогообложения. Среди основных причин, успешную борьбу с коррупцией, установку современного таможенного оборудования на терминалах и успешную работу экспертов различных департаментов министерства. Эксперты отмечают, что борьба с коррупцией ещё далеко не завершена и при успехе может существенно повысить налоговые и таможенные сборы.

Afghanistan National Procurement Authority: Debarred Companies

Ce fe Construction Company - Provided fake Bid Security Waheed Zia Construction Company - Provided fake documents as similar contract Cefe Group of Logistic Services Company - Provided fake bank guarantee as bid security Altanbena Construction, Road Construction and Construction Material Production Company- Provided fake Bank Statement Real Builder Step Construction - Fake Bank Statement Golden Sky Logistic Company - Provided fake Bank Statement Kabul Modern Construction Company - Provided fake bank statement Kamal Baba Construction, and construction materials production - Fake Bank Security Kasre Construction company - Provided fake Bank Statement Kumsen Insaat Construction Company - Provided fake documents as similar contract Elham Emamzadah Construction company - Provided fake Bank Statement Hiwad Safeer Construction Company - Provided fake bank statement Wesa Ahadi Construction Company - Provided fake documents as a similar Projects Al-Hoti Construction Company - F

Afghan Finance Minister promises to bring significant improvements in transparency, fighting corruption and delivery of public services

Afghanistan and Azerbaijan signed an agreement on the establishment of a One-Stop Shop. The agreement was signed between Afghan Finance Minister Eklil Hakimi and Anam Karimov, Head of Azerbaijan’s Public Services Center.  The One-Stop Shop is a new innovation which enables simple and quick provision of public services to citizens. “This center will bring significant improvements in transparency, fighting corruption and delivery of public services,” said Hakimi. According to Minister Hakimi, the One-Stop Shop will enable citizen to receive their Tazkira (national ID cards), marriage certificate, driving license, car registration, plate number, birth certificate, death certificate, graduation documents and other documents in a short period of time. >>> read original article

It's time to think of cybersecurity as a business enabler: VeilMail in Afghanistan

IT'S TIME TO THINK OF CYBERSECURITY AS A BUSINESS ENABLER http://www.forbes.com/sites/williamsaito/2016/07/01/its-time-to-think-of-cybersecurity-as-a-business-enabler PUBLISHED: JULY 1, 2016 Author: William H. Saito http://www.forbes.com/sites/williamsaito/ Named by Nikkei as one of the "100 Most Influential People for Japan," William H. Saito is Special Advisor of the Cabinet Office and Prime Minister for the Government of Japan, and Vice Chairman for Palo Alto Networks Japan. William began software programming in elementary school and started his own company while still in high school. Named Entrepreneur of the Year in 1998 (by Ernst & Young, NASDAQ and USA Today), he is recognized as one of the world’s leading authorities on cybersecurity. He is a Foundation Board Member at the World Economic Forum (WEF) and advises several national governments around the globe. His autobiography, An Unprogrammed Life: Adventures of an Incurable Entrepreneur, was published

Afghanistan reviewing major corruption cases involving politicians

The Afghan government is reportedly working on at least 20 major corruption cases involving highly political influential figures. According to a report by BBC’s Afghanistan service, the government is currently reviewing the cases of powerful individuals which includes former ministers. The report further added that the suspects are having extensive political support and the review of the cases comes as the Afghan government has committed to uproot corruption as part of its commitment to international community. President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani appeared in a press conference after returning from the NATO Warsaw summit in Poland. He promised to bring reforms to different sectors of the and to abolish corruption in the country. “We are working on bringing reforms to different sectors, and to abolish corruption in Afghanistan,” President Ghani said. President Ghani insisted that “Our fight against corruption is legal, not political.” This comes as the Afghan Attorney General Farid Hamid

Afghan female decided to fulfill her dream and by riding her bike tries to introduce Afghanistan as a peace-loving country to the world

Zhala Saramst wants to raise Afghanistan’s flag all over the world Wind running through her hair and sun kissing her face, Zhala Saramst at the age of 17, decided to fulfill her dream and by riding her bike tries to introduce Afghanistan as a peace-loving country to the world.  By winding her way through cultural taboo and beating a new path to Afghan women’s equality, Zhala wants to raise her country’s flag in all across the world. Being a teenage girl in Afghanistan means that the chance of getting a quality education is severely limited. The 17-year old, Zhala is one of the Afghan female bike riders who rides her bike for hours daily to reach the mount victory. In just a few short years, a group of brave girls have been taking to the pavement and to the cracked dirt roads to try to make a stand and Zhala was among one of them. She met a group of bicycle riders three years ago, and now it has been one year that she professionally passes hundreds kilometers of the roads every da

Afghan Minister of Urban Development Affairs Mansoor Naderi launched a widespread campaign against corruption to boost housing sector

Syed Sadat Mansoor Naderi is one of the youngest ministers in the cabinet of the government of Afghanistan. Enriched with the experience in trade and business, Mr. Naderi was appointed as the Minister of Urban Development Affairs as he was unanimously approved by the lawmakers in Lower House of the Parliament.   Mr. Naderi received 202 votes following an impressive statement he delivered in the Lower House to present his plans for the one of the most technical and professional ministries. Before starting his routine work, Mr. Naderi wakes up early in the morning for the prayers and gym workout and gets ready for the breakfast at around 6:00 am every day. He arrives in the office at 7:00 am and starts his work as per the scheduled which has been properly prepared. – Construction of affordable houses. – Fixing up the conditions of the major cities which have been out of the norms, reforms and capacity building are among the top priorities Mr. Naderi promised to take care of during

Afghanistan national cricket team defeated Scotland

The Afghanistan national cricket team defeated Scotland by 78 runs and won the two match One Day International series 1-0. Afghanistan won the toss and elected to bat first setting a target of 179 runs for Scotland from 37.2 overs by losing 6 wickets. Mohammad Shahzad scored 84 runs, Noor Ali Zadran 6 runs, Jaed Ahmadi 16 runs, Rahmat Shah 26 runs, Asghar Stanikzai 5 runs, Najibullah Zadran 11 runs, and Mohammad Nabi remained not out after scoring 14 runss with Mirwais Ashraf who did not make any runs. The overs of the match was reduced due to rainfall and the match refrees applied Duck and Lewis method. Scotland could not chase the given target and lost all its wickets after scoring 132 runs from 27.1 overs. Dawlat Zadran took 2 wickets, Shapoor Zadran 2 wickets, Mohammad Nabi 3 wickets, Rashid Khan 2 wickets, and Mirwais Ashraf 1 wicket. The first ODI match between Afghanistan and Scotland ended without any result due to heavy rainfall which stopped the match. Afghanistan scored

Qatar and China build 11,000 residential units in Afghanistan

The Ministry of Urban Development Affairs of Afghanistan announced that construction works of 11,000 residential units would kick off in the current solar year. The Minister of Urban Development, H.E. Syed Sadat Mansoor Naderi, said 10,000 residential units would be built by China in the coming three months upon conclusion of a Memorandum of Understanding. He added that the agreement with Qatar on the construction of 1,000 residential units was concluded and construction work was expected to start soon. Explaining his plans for the solar year 1395, Naderi said his ministry would focus on creation of jobs, economic momentum and bringing positive changes in the perspective of the cities. He also promised to bring changes to the urban master plan in order to ensure it meets the needs and demands of the people. Naderi also added that the Ministry of Urban Development Affairs has managed to spend 49% of its annual budget during the solar year 1394, which is considerably higher than the

Afghanistan sees a considerable increase in the production of honey

Nearly 2 million kilograms of honey has been produced throughout Afghanistan this year. Currently, about 24,000 beekeepers (of which over 600 are women) are currently engaged in honey production within 60 cooperatives across the country. And, a large number of beekeepers are individually involved in honey production in various provinces. Honey is produced in 30 provinces of Afghanistan. The provinces with the highest production of honey are Badakhshan, Herat, Takhar, Kunduz, Baghlan and Ghazni. The French Development Agency (AFD) is the major international partner and donor supporting honey production in Afghanistan.

Cold-storage facility for agricultural products to be built at Kabul International Airport

The Office of the President of Afghanistan has given its approval for the construction of a cold-storage facility for agricultural products at the Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul.  The Deputy Director of the Afghanistan Civil Aviation Authority (ACAA), Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan Mr Shah Mahmood Habibi, said the facility would have a storage capacity of 70-100 tons of products and would be stretched over 1,760 square meters of land inside the airport’s custom office. The facility would be built at an estimated cost of 3,2 million AFN. Similar facilities would also be built at Herat, Kandahar and Balkh airports, said the Deputy Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation Mr Shah Mahmood Habibi.

Statistics on the presence of women in the institutions of Afghanistan

33% of teachers in Afghanistan are women, and 240 Afghan females are serving as judges. 3,5 million Afghan girls are attending schools/Madrassas across the country. Based on figures from the Ministry of Education of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, there are currently 8,5 million students in Afghanistan, 170,000 teachers and 16,000 schools. The Education Ministry’s staff is over 90,000, of which about 30% are women. In the Afghan capital Kabul, 80% of the teachers are women. Over 3300 women are serving in police and security forces. There are nearly 4000 Afghan female doctors and about 800 private companies managed by women. Hundreds of Afghan female athletes have participated in various international and national competitions. At local governments, over 30% of departments are led by females. 85 Afghan women are members of the Afghan Parliament. Afghan women form about 22% of Afghanistan’s public service employees.