The president of the Afghanistan Business Council in the United Arab Emirates, Haji Obaidullah Sader Khail, in separate meetings with US Charges d’Affaires Karen Decker and UK Charges d’Affaires Robert Chatterton Dickson, discussed resolving challenges facing the private sector in Afghanistan.
Addressing issues related to money transfers and obtaining business visas were the central topics in discussions between the president of the business council and the US Charge d’Affaires for Afghanistan.
Haji Obaidullah Sader Khail, head of the Afghan Business Council in the UAE, said about these meetings: “I met with Karen Decker and discussed the issues and challenges our traders face inside and outside Afghanistan. Our problems involve the banking system, visas, and transportation—how we can get raw materials and medicine into the country.”
Meanwhile, the Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Investment (ACCI) said that economic restrictions over the past three years have created challenges for the private sector, and these restrictions need to be lifted.
Khanjan Alkozai, a member of the ACCI’s Board of Directors, told TOLOnews: “The money that the international community pledged during the republic, and some of the projects they initiated—amounting to over 80 billion afghani—most of them have been invoiced, some projects have been completed, and others are left unfinished or 90% to 99% complete.”
Mir Shakeeb Mir, an economic expert, shared this perspective: “The economic restrictions imposed on Afghanistan’s private sector, particularly the banking sector, over the past three years have had negative effects. Lifting these restrictions could significantly improve Afghanistan’s economic situation and strengthen its private sector.”
This comes after the Afghanistan Business Council in the UAE held a meeting on Saturday and Sunday this week, attended by representatives from global institutions, including the World Bank, United Nations, and the US Agency for International Development (USAID). Participants discussed the banking and financial sector, foreign direct investment in mining, manufacturing, and industry, the global community’s response to Afghanistan’s current challenges, and ways to create job opportunities for Afghan citizens.