By Bibi Amina Hakimi in TOLOnews Online, Nov 02, 2023 at 3:46 PM
The World Bank in its latest monthly report called the “Afghanistan Economic Monitor,” said that half of all Afghans are living in poverty.
According to the statement, from January to September 2023, total exports amounted to US$1.3 billion.
“From January to September 2023, total exports amounted to US$1.3 billion, representing a slight decrease of 0.5 percent compared to the same period in 2022, and Pakistan remains Afghanistan’s largest export market, accounting for 55 percent of total exports, followed by India at 29 percent.”
It’s stated in the report that imports reached US$ 5.7 billion, showing a 27 percent growth.
“Certainly, in these nine months, our exports have decreased, and the reason for the decrease is that we did not export coal from the country, and secondly, we had these problems at the borders with our neighbors,” said Khairuddin Maiel, deputy of the Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Investment.
Meanwhile, The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the World Food Programme (WFP) in a joint statement warned that acute food insecurity is likely to deteriorate further in 18 hunger hotspots – comprising a total of 22 countries.
“One of the main reasons why Afghanistan’s economy is in the current situation is that after the fall of the republic and the suspension of international aid, unfortunately, the economy has shrunk by 25% in the last two years,” said Sayar Qurishi, an economist.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Economy emphasized that for economic progress in the country, it is necessary for the international community to remove the restrictions imposed on the economic sector.
“Our demand from the international community is not to make the people of Afghanistan suffer, and for the economic progress and development of Afghanistan. The removal of restrictions and obstacles is a necessity,” said Abdul Latif Nazari, deputy of the Ministry of Economy.
Earlier, the World Bank had written in a report that after the establishment of the Islamic Emirate, Afghanistan’s economy has stagnated and the unemployment rate in the country has doubled.
https://tolonews.com/business-185840
