After twenty-five years of various conflicts,
and parallel to the rebuilding of political and societal institutions
of the state, Afghanistan is in the process of rebuilding physical
infrastructures and economic foundations of the country. There
have been remarkable achievements in the fields of reconstruction
and development. However, since to many media outlets “good
news” do not necessarily constitute as news, there has
been less coverage of activities concerning reconstruction and
development in Afghanistan. Since the collapse of the Taliban
regime , with the support of our international partners, our
national economy is growing steadily and, over the past four
and half years, we have enjoyed a total real GDP growth of 85
percent, while the rate of inflation has been kept at around
10 percent. To further improve our economy, we are working diligently
to create an enabling environment for business to grow, and
for our farmers to produce and market their products. We have
also encouraged foreign direct investment and private sector
investors to seize opportunities available in Afghanistan. Work
has also started toward the promotion of our macro-economic
stability by seeking debt-relief from our international creditors
through the Paris Club arrangement. Perhaps the proudest achievement
of Afghanistan in recent years has been the enrolment of over
six million school children, both girls and boys. Though many
of them still lack basic facilities such as books, pens and
school buildings, we all have to salute Afghan students for
their thirst for knowledge.
Thus far, we have succeeded in almost rebuilding Afghanistan's circular roads, about 2,350 kilometers. Another remarkable achievement is the Afghanistan National Solidarity Program, which has had reconstruction projects in over twenty thousand villages across Afghanistan. Health services covered 15% of the people in 2003. This year, the percentage was raised to 80. Three years ago, the annual per annum income was only US$ 85.00. Now it is US$ 350.00
However, there have been some shortcomings. The amount of international assistance to Afghanistan has been far less than countries/regions such as Kosovo, East-Timor and Bosnia. Furthermore, a large amount of assistance has been channeled through NGO’s, which has resulted in duplication, mismanagement, and in some cases corruption. Fortunately, at the London Conference, a large number of participants recognized the urgent need for channeling assistance via the Afghan government. It is not the desire of the Afghan government to run all economic activities of the state. As the experience of many state-run economies have shown, governments should be in charge of policy-making, regulating, and monitoring of the economic activities, rather than providing the bulk of them. We are also aware of our moral and legal duties towards the vulnerable members of the society. Both the Afghanistan constitution and also Islamic principles reject indifference towards the plight of poor, in particular since recent wars have created millions of vulnerable individuals.
Furthermore, we are conscious of the urgent need to have a transparent and clean bureaucracy in order to attract international assistance and also discharging our responsibility towards Afghan citizens.
Afghanistan enjoys many untapped potentials, such as minerals resources, agricultural products, tourism, inexpensive and young labor force, and in particular its unique geographical location as the cross-road of different regions. We remain confident and are determined to translate our potentials to active sources of our prosperity and our region. For more information please visit the following websites.
- Afghanistan National Solidarity Program
- Afghanistan Interim Development Strategy
- World Bank/ Afghanistan Report
- International Monetary Fund
- United Nations Development Programme
Thus far, we have succeeded in almost rebuilding Afghanistan's circular roads, about 2,350 kilometers. Another remarkable achievement is the Afghanistan National Solidarity Program, which has had reconstruction projects in over twenty thousand villages across Afghanistan. Health services covered 15% of the people in 2003. This year, the percentage was raised to 80. Three years ago, the annual per annum income was only US$ 85.00. Now it is US$ 350.00
However, there have been some shortcomings. The amount of international assistance to Afghanistan has been far less than countries/regions such as Kosovo, East-Timor and Bosnia. Furthermore, a large amount of assistance has been channeled through NGO’s, which has resulted in duplication, mismanagement, and in some cases corruption. Fortunately, at the London Conference, a large number of participants recognized the urgent need for channeling assistance via the Afghan government. It is not the desire of the Afghan government to run all economic activities of the state. As the experience of many state-run economies have shown, governments should be in charge of policy-making, regulating, and monitoring of the economic activities, rather than providing the bulk of them. We are also aware of our moral and legal duties towards the vulnerable members of the society. Both the Afghanistan constitution and also Islamic principles reject indifference towards the plight of poor, in particular since recent wars have created millions of vulnerable individuals.
Furthermore, we are conscious of the urgent need to have a transparent and clean bureaucracy in order to attract international assistance and also discharging our responsibility towards Afghan citizens.
Afghanistan enjoys many untapped potentials, such as minerals resources, agricultural products, tourism, inexpensive and young labor force, and in particular its unique geographical location as the cross-road of different regions. We remain confident and are determined to translate our potentials to active sources of our prosperity and our region. For more information please visit the following websites.
- Afghanistan National Solidarity Program
- Afghanistan Interim Development Strategy
- World Bank/ Afghanistan Report
- International Monetary Fund
- United Nations Development Programme