The Ministry of Industry and Commerce said that China has signed investment contracts in various areas worth around $2 billion after the collapse of the former government in Afghanistan.
A spokesman for the MoIC, Akhundazada Abdul Salam Jawad, said that there has been Chinese investment in the extraction of mines, services at airports, as well as in industrial parks.
“The contracts have been signed for the extraction of mines, in areas of providing services at the airports, and the formation of industrial parks. Practical work has begun and total investment is reaching $2 billion. There will be contracts for the modernization of customs offices and other areas with foreign companies,” he said.
This comes as the head of a union of Chinese companies, Yu ming hui, said that more than 20 companies are active in Afghanistan currently.
“There are … 21 companies active in various parts of Kabul,” he said.
A number of Chinese investors on Saturday held a meeting with the deputy Minister of Industry and Mines.
“I think that China wants to influence the politics of Afghanistan through a window of economic cooperation and undermine the role of its major rivals in Afghanistan’s politics,” said Shakir Yaqobi, political analyst.
China has signed contracts for major projects in Afghanistan within the last decade including with the Mes Aynak copper mines and Amu Darya oil projects.
