The Ministry of Mines and Petroleum says contracts worth over $500 million have been awarded to companies to establish cement manufacturing facilities.
This includes mining of raw materials in Herat, Parwan and Kandahar provinces.
Homayoun Afghan, the Ministry of Mines and Petroleum spokesperson, said that once this process gets underway, Afghanistan will manufacture enough for its own needs.
The ministry officials also said that contracts are expected to be awarded to companies for an additional three sites in Logar, Jawzjan and Samangan provinces.
Officials from the Ministry of Economy also said that they are trying to reduce poverty and create job opportunities for citizens by implementing macroeconomic and infrastructure projects.
Economic experts, meanwhile, said that with the start of cement production and processing in Afghanistan, along with the growth of the economy, thousands of jobs will be provided.
Currently, Afghanistan imports cement from Pakistan and Iran.
