The Imam Abu Hanifa 2nd National and International Expo and Trade Fair was held in Kabul with hundreds of traders and large and small companies participating.
The officials of the Islamic Emirate said the purpose of holding this exhibition is to support domestic products and marketing these products.
The leader of the Islamic Emirate, Mawlawi Hibatullah Akhundzada, in an audio message for the exhibition called on the private sector to not rely on foreign investment and help.
“Businessmen overseas, come invest in your country. Share funds, build companies,” Akhundzada said.
“After the Islamic Emirate came to power, the security has been ensured across the country, and a good opportunity has been provided for investment and the extraction of mines in the country compared to any other times,” The economic deputy PM, Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar said.
The fair will run from July 16 through July 22 and foreign industrialists from Iran, Turkmenistan, Turkey, Pakistan, and other nations, in addition to domestic industrialists, also displayed their products at the exhibition.
“I ask our citizens to support domestic products,” said Nooruddin Azizi, the acting minister of Industry and Commerce.
“Recent economic data indicates that the economy is stabilized, inflation is subsidized, the exchange rate is stable, the trade has growth. So, really congratulations for that. Of course, all these gains are still not enough, we need to support Afghanistan to face the immense challenges, including food security, widespread poverty, and livelihoods,” said Raffaella Lodice, the EU Chargée d’Affaires to Afghanistan.
In the meantime, the heads of Afghanistan’s chambers of commerce and investment, and industries and mines asked the Islamic Emirate to further facilitate for the private sector for the growth of domestic production in the country.
“This exhibition is the first and largest in Afghanistan, and for the first time it offers an opportunity for the presence and exchange of views for domestic, regional, and international businessmen, investors, and industrialists,” said Tawakal Ahmadyar, head of the Chamber of Commerce and Investment.
“The path of the country’s growth is clear. Self-confidence, preference for domestic goods, and work toward its expansion and development,” Shirbaz Kaminzada, head of the Chamber of Mines and Industries.
Some businesspeople and participants in the exhibition consider it important to launch such large programs in Kabul for the purpose of supporting the domestic production of the country.
“People should come and encourage us, and buy our products,” said Nafas Gul Jami, a businesswoman.
“This is a good exhibition, and it is a positive step for the country’s future,” said Waheed Wafa, a participant.
According to data from the Chamber of Commerce and Investment, 600 booths were at the expo.