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Showing posts from September, 2018

Afghanistan and India can boost trade and transit ties easily through Chabahar port, but the new US sanctions on Iran have changed the situation and now fewer investors are interested to invest in the port

Uzbek President invites India to join Afghan Railway Project

India will be invited to help with a key railway project in Afghanistan during Uzbekistan’s President Shavkat Mirziyoyev’s visit to New Delhi. The railway, almost 650 km, which will connect Mazar-e-Sharif and Herat cities and will later be extended to Kabul, is a major project agreed to by President Ashraf Ghani and President Mirziyoyev last year. Many of the preliminary surveys for the project have already been completed. “We support a greater presence of India in Central Asia, and hope for some benefits of that for Afghanistan. I hope that negotiations with PM Modi will open a new page in our bilateral relations,” Special Assistant for Foreign Affairs Ilhom Nematov said as quoted in a report by The Hindu. “If India would be involved in [the railway line] construction, we would welcome them because of India’s proven record and experience, and because of its contribution to bringing peace to Afghanistan,” he said. He said Uzbekistan has an interest in opening trade and connectivity ro

Afghanistan and China will become a connecting point for Europe, Africa and Asia through the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI)

Second Vice President of Afghanistan, Sarwar Danish, says Afghanistan and China will become a connecting point for Europe, Africa and Asia through the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Danish was recently on a state visit to China, leading a high-level delegation. Danish visited the Communist Party secretary for Gansu province Lin Duo on Monday, the VP’s office said. On be behalf the Chinese Communist Party, Lin Duo hoped Danish’s trip would play a crucial role in terms of improved bilateral cooperation and relationship. Afghanistan and China, enjoying close relations, had been connected for the past 2000 years through the Silk Road, Duo added. Afghanistan could play an important role in terms of China’s security, he believed. “Afghanistan is a neighbor of China and it needs assistance, the Chinese government has developed a policy for continued aid to Afghanistan,” he said. Danish commended China’s ancient civilization, political stability and strong leadership. The second largest econo

Pakistan has recently delivered to Afghanistan first consignment of 40,000 tons of wheat

Pakistan has recently delivered to Afghanistan first consignment of 40,000 tons of wheat it promised as gift earlier this year. The aid was promised in April during the visit of the then Pakistani Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi to Kabul. The first consignment reached Afghanistan as Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi visited Kabul on Saturday in first visit by a Pakistani minister to Kabul after Imran Khan took office as prime minister. During the visit, Qureshi met with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah and his Afghan counterpart Salahuddin Rabbani, discussing security, peace and counter-terrorism.

Indian Spicejet to start cargo flights to Afghanistan

India’s biggest airline Spicejet this week announced it had linked up with the Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Industries (ACCI) to run cargo operations between Delhi and Kabul from October 15. SpiceJet plans to transport 1,500 tons of cargo every month on its freighter aircraft under the partnership, the airline said in a statement. “In collaboration with ACCI and with the support of government of Afghanistan, SpiceJet will transport fresh fruits and dry fruits, carpets and other commodities from Kabul to different states of India at competitive prices, which will be subsidized by the Afghan Government,” the statement said. SpiceJet recently announced the launch of an air cargo services under the brand name SpiceXpress. “SpiceXpress which starts operation from September 18, 2018, will function as a separate business unit under SpiceJet Limited. SpiceXpress has laid down a detailed plan covering both domestic and international routes. To begin with the air cargo operations will c
Today 15 SEPTEMBER 2018 in the beautiful #Herat City #Afghanistan #ForeignCurrency #ExchangeRates #EUR #USD #Afghanis Doing #Business in Afghanistan #InvestInAFG #IvoTONIUT .com INVEST IN THE #TOURISM SECTOR OF HERAT

It is time for the war in Afghanistan to end

Today [Tuesday, September 11, 2018] marks 17 years since the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, a day commemorated with pledges to “never forget.”  Our grief is well remembered. But too many of us have forgotten, or soon will, what followed on the heels of 9/11: our apparently endless war in Afghanistan. Nearly two decades on, the longest conflict in US history fades in and out of American consciousness — mostly out. The war has settled into grimly familiar patterns large and small. On a weekly and monthly level, the same headlines roll in again and again: A suicide bomber blows up a market, mosque, or other public venue, and dozens of innocents die. A coalition soldier is killed and a few more wounded. A high-ranking Islamic State, al Qaeda, Taliban, or other insurgency leader dies, and his role is soon refilled, hydra-like, by a new generation of radical. Then there are patterns on a larger scale. Three presidential administrations from two political parties have overseen five tr

EXPORTING CORRUPTION - PROGRESS REPORT 2018: ASSESSING ENFORCEMENT OF THE OECD ANTI-BRIBERY CONVENTION

Transparency International’s 2018 Progress Report is an independent assessment of the enforcement of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Anti-Bribery Convention, which requires parties to criminalize bribery of foreign public officials and introduce related measures . The Convention is a key instrument for curbing global corruption because the 44 signatory countries are responsible for approximately 65 per cent of world exports and more than 75 per cent of total foreign direct investment outflows. This twelfth such report also assesses enforcement in China, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China, India and Singapore, which are not parties to the OECD Convention but are major exporters, accounting for 18 per cent of world exports. Hong Kong is covered separately in the report, as it is an autonomous territory, with a different legal system from China and export data compiled separately. The report has been prepared b

American foreign policy shows once again that it is against the economic development of Afghanistan

Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Industries (ACCI) said that Afghan traders are bringing in fewer goods from Europe and Turkey via Iran in the wake of Washington’s new sanctions against Tehran. According to traders, this has had a negative impact on Afghanistan-Iran trade ties. The ACCI said not only were Afghan traders suffering but foreign traders were also feeling the pinch as their trade volume through Iran’s Bandar-e-Abbas and Chabahar ports to Afghanistan has dropped considerably. ACCI officials said this is because foreign companies are afraid of the repercussions they could face if dealing through or with Iran.   Afghan traders had plans to increase the volume of imports and exports to Iran, China and European countries through Bandar-e-Abbas and Chabahar ports, but following the new US sanctions on Tehran, the situation has changed. “Our traders are afraid that if they export goods to China and European countries through Chabahar Port, they might face with challenges i
All activities of the Branch Office in   Afghanistan of the Italian firm SPT are temporarily suspended as the SPT Country Director for Afghanistan, Ivo Toniut, is undergoing urgent medical treatment in   Italy. The activities will be resumed normally as soon as Ivo Toniut returns to Afghanistan.

Invest in the tourism sector of Afghanistan

Invest in Panjshir, Afghanistan

Afghanistan, India and Iran hold trilateral meeting on Chabahar

India and Iran on Tuesday [11 September 2018] reviewed the progress on completing the Chabahar Port project that will provide India a critical transport link to Afghanistan, bypassing Pakistan.  At the first trilateral meeting of India, Iran and Afghanistan held in Kabul, Afghanistan also conveyed to both New Delhi and Tehran its keenness on early completion of the project. The meeting was chaired by Afghan Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Hekmat Khalil Karzai. The Indian and Iranian delegations were led by Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale and Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi respectively. An official release issued in New Delhi said the meeting focused on consolidating economic cooperation, including Chabahar, as well as enhancing cooperation on counter-terrorism, counter-narcotics, and continuing support to the peace and reconciliation process that is led and owned by Afghanistan. The three sides agreed to hold the next round of consultation next year. The meeting came days af

Афганские парламентарии проголосовали за пересмотр афгано-американского соглашения о сотрудничестве в сфере безопасности

Парламентарии подчеркнули неэффективность соглашения и заявили, что американская сторона не выполнила условия договора и не смогла обеспечить необходимую поддержку афганским силам безопасности. Из 150 депутатов, присутствовавших на заседании, 146 проголосовали за пересмотр соглашения. Накануне отмены двустороннего соглашения с США потребовали депутаты Мешрано Джирги (верхней палаты парламента). Афганские сенаторы выразили обеспокоенность в связи с дестабилизацией обстановки в стране, подчеркнув, что в отсутствие надлежащей реакции США на существующие угрозы безопасности двустороннее соглашение не имеет смысла.

Afghanistan has huge natural resources which could be used to make it a net power exporter

Afghanistan State power distribution company DABS signed a Memorandum of Understanding during the second India-Afghanistan International Trade and Investment show, according to India’s Economic Times report.  The 4-day event, which started yesterday 12 September 2018, is aimed at bolstering trade between the two countries and is showcasing business and investment opportunities in the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan. The Economic Times reported that Tata power is “looking to tap huge opportunities in Afghanistan”, where only 35 percent of the people have access to electricity, said the CEO and MD of Tata Power, Mr. Praveer Sinha. "When we look at the power sector and how we can play a role in Afghanistan, we see a huge opportunity. The country unfortunately does not have universal access of power as just about 35% of the people have access to power and that also in the four main cities," said Mr. Sinha. He said it was because of this that Tata Power would like to work with D

Afghanistan sends eight ambassadors to retirement

According to documents obtained from an Afghan news agency, few days ago was issued a presidential decree by which eight Afghan ambassadors from key embassies and many employees of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs have been sacked. The ambassadors are: - Abdul Rahim Sayed, Afghanistan ambassador to Turkey. - Abdul Qayum Kochai, Afghanistan ambassador to Russia. - Nasir Ahmad Noor, Afghanistan ambassador to Iran. - Ali Ahmad Jalali, Afghanistan ambassador to Germany. - Omar Sayd Sultan, Afghanistan ambassador to Greece. - Mangal Hussain, Afghanistan ambassador to Kuwait. - Massood Khalili, Afghanistan ambassador to Spain. - Faizullah Kakar, Afghanistan ambassador to Qatar.

Work on second lane Kandahar - Spin Boldak road underway

Work on the 80 kilometers second lane Kandahar-Spinboldak Road has been underway which may be completed in two years. This would help improve the transportation facilities for domestic and foreign businessmen and facilities local people as well. Public Works Department Director Abdul Ahmad Ehsan told Pajhwok Afghan News the Kandahar-Spinboldak road is 100 kilometers long and the 16 kilometers two-lane portion of the road had been already constructed on international standards and opened for traffic. Ehsan said two different companies have been working on the road. One company is working on the road at the cost of 1.25billion Afghanis and another is carrying out the project at the cost of 1.33 billion Afghanis. The public works director said the two-lane road construction project would be completed in two years adding that around 100 engineers had been working on the project. The residents of Kandahar province are happy over the construction of second lane Kandahar City-Boldak road a

WFP raises concerns over drought in Afghanistan

Discussion on Afghanistan’s Railway Law