Inaugurated a 'One-Stop Shop' at Kabul Intl Airport that will simplify customs procedures and increase exports of Afghanistan’s products
In a major step toward facilitating exports by air, the Government of Afghanistan inaugurated a One-Stop Shop at the Hamid Karzai International Airport (HKIA) Customs Zone with the support of USAID’s Afghanistan Trade and Revenue Project. Addressing the inauguration ceremony, Afghanistan CEO Dr. Abdullah Abdullah said that the move will simplify customs procedures and increase exports. “The Office of the Chief Executive is pleased and proud that you have taken initial steps – represented by the opening of this One-Stop Shop – to remove barriers to trade and to make it easier for exporters to access foreign markets,” said Abdullah. “Moreover, the use of air cargo and the establishment of recognized air cargo corridors between Afghanistan and places like Dubai and India allow Afghan traders to circumvent the problems that have arisen over the years regarding shipment of cargo via land borders.” The etablishment of the center is a step forward towards boosting Afghanistan’s exports, pursue better marketing programs for domestic products and improve domestic productions, said Abdullah, adding that with the creation of the center, the business community will be able to get rid of bureaucracy and other issues. Meanwhile Mr. John Bass US Ambassador to Afghanistan has said that the center send a positive image of Afghanistan abroad. Bass said “the US believes that the steps taken today—the creation of this One-Stop Center— will give the world a different vision of Afghanistan and its future.”
USAID has funded the new center. USAID support focused on the construction of the infrastructure. USAID will continue to work with staff of the OSS on custom processes and training for staff. The new facility significantly reduces the time required to export goods by streamlining and automating customs documentation. The opening ceremony was organized by the Afghanistan Customs Department (ACD), the Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Industries, the Afghanistan Civil Aviation Authority headed by Mr. Habibi, and USAID. Abdullah said the center will increase Afghanistan’s exports through air corridors. Referring to Afghanistan-India air cargo corridor, Abdullah said that creation of the center has paved the way for the export of Afghanistan’s agricultural products. Nevertheless, officials from the Afghan Ministry of Commerce and Industries (MoCI) have said that the body amended over 27 trade laws over the past three years to further facilitate the business community in the country.
Five more laws will be amended this year, said the officials. “Afghanistan’s carpets, saffron, dried fruits, and nuts have growing appeal in Europe, India, and the Middle East. Since the launch of the Afghanistan-India Air Corridor in May, Afghanistan has exported more than 1,000 tons by air. This and future air bridges will be strengthened by the One-Stop Shop at HKIA. It will also serve as blueprint for other OSS facilities in Mazar-e Sharif, Kandahar, and Herat,” said ACCI deputy chief Khan Alokozai. According to Rasa, the commerce ministry also plans to create a common center for the issuance of trade licenses so that all applicants can receive their licenses from a single center and without wasting time. Afghan companies are increasingly exporting their goods through HKIA, but clearing customs has been a lengthy and costly process due to the need to visit and clear goods at multiple agencies. With the OSS, all relevant entities are located under one roof, and Afghan exporters will experience fewer delays and costs as a result of streamlined customs clearance procedures over time. The launch of the OSS follows the signing of a memorandum of understanding among five ministries and two other entities: the Ministry of Finance; the Ministry of Information and Culture; the Ministry of Mines and Petroleum; the Ministry of Public Health; the Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation, and Livestock; the Afghanistan National Standards Authority; and the Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Industries.
In addition to obtaining the buy-in of entities responsible for customs clearance, USAID worked with ACD, which operates under the Ministry of Finance, to reduce the number of customs clearance steps from more than 30 to 14.
USAID has funded the new center. USAID support focused on the construction of the infrastructure. USAID will continue to work with staff of the OSS on custom processes and training for staff. The new facility significantly reduces the time required to export goods by streamlining and automating customs documentation. The opening ceremony was organized by the Afghanistan Customs Department (ACD), the Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Industries, the Afghanistan Civil Aviation Authority headed by Mr. Habibi, and USAID. Abdullah said the center will increase Afghanistan’s exports through air corridors. Referring to Afghanistan-India air cargo corridor, Abdullah said that creation of the center has paved the way for the export of Afghanistan’s agricultural products. Nevertheless, officials from the Afghan Ministry of Commerce and Industries (MoCI) have said that the body amended over 27 trade laws over the past three years to further facilitate the business community in the country.
Five more laws will be amended this year, said the officials. “Afghanistan’s carpets, saffron, dried fruits, and nuts have growing appeal in Europe, India, and the Middle East. Since the launch of the Afghanistan-India Air Corridor in May, Afghanistan has exported more than 1,000 tons by air. This and future air bridges will be strengthened by the One-Stop Shop at HKIA. It will also serve as blueprint for other OSS facilities in Mazar-e Sharif, Kandahar, and Herat,” said ACCI deputy chief Khan Alokozai. According to Rasa, the commerce ministry also plans to create a common center for the issuance of trade licenses so that all applicants can receive their licenses from a single center and without wasting time. Afghan companies are increasingly exporting their goods through HKIA, but clearing customs has been a lengthy and costly process due to the need to visit and clear goods at multiple agencies. With the OSS, all relevant entities are located under one roof, and Afghan exporters will experience fewer delays and costs as a result of streamlined customs clearance procedures over time. The launch of the OSS follows the signing of a memorandum of understanding among five ministries and two other entities: the Ministry of Finance; the Ministry of Information and Culture; the Ministry of Mines and Petroleum; the Ministry of Public Health; the Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation, and Livestock; the Afghanistan National Standards Authority; and the Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Industries.
In addition to obtaining the buy-in of entities responsible for customs clearance, USAID worked with ACD, which operates under the Ministry of Finance, to reduce the number of customs clearance steps from more than 30 to 14.