The Economic Commission held its regular meeting on Tuesday, October 17th, at the Marmarin Palace, chaired by the esteemed Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar Akhund.
During the meeting, after extensive deliberations, the proposed amendments to the Inter-ministerial Investment Committee's procedures were approved. This committee's establishment aims to streamline the process of attracting both domestic and foreign investments, foster coordination among relevant ministries and departments in investment planning stages, create an investment-friendly environment, and ensure effective management while offering essential information to potential investors about projects in Afghanistan.
Furthermore, following a thorough discussion, the plan for constructing Jahan Park in Kabul's eleventh district by the public-private partnership received initial approval. The Kabul Municipality was tasked with reopening negotiations with the contracting company to determine the contract period and address other significant concerns. According to this plan, the private sector will invest 960 million Afghanis in 150 jeribs of land, with 35 percent of the revenue allocated to the Kabul Municipality. The Park is expected to be completed within three years, in compliance with city regulations and equipped with all necessary amenities.
Additionally, the meeting saw a decision to promote domestic salt production to meet the country's needs. The Ministry of Mines and Petroleum was instructed to reduce the royalty on raw materials for domestic salt production and processing factories. The Ministry of Industry and Commerce was directed to allocate space in provincial industrial parks and provide comprehensive support to all factories, and ensure that they meet the required standards. Those failing to meet the standards will be mandated to reach compliance promptly. This strategy aims to achieve self-sufficiency in salt from domestic sources. The Food and Drug Authority has been tasked with enforcing strict measures to prevent substandard salt from entering the market.
Finally, the committee led by the Ministry of Water and Energy was entrusted with the responsibility of devising a comprehensive plan for determining and securing properties related to water dams and riverbeds. This plan will be presented at the next Economic Commission meeting.
