Thursday November 7, 2019
Kabul (BNA) Addressing a gathering at the presidential palace marking the Pine Nut day, President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani said the country’s treasures were no longer hidden and Afghanistan was ready and able to export them. The President said Afghan nation was well aware of the importance of Pine Nut and it was not limited to Paktia province, but belongs to all Afghan people. “Our vision is to turn Afghanistan into sustainable agriculture and exporting country,” the President told the gathering. He said there were no lack of market and it was needed for Afghans to open their minds and increase exports. The President called regional market as the biggest one for Afghanistan, saying it was needed to study the region. “Pomegranate of Kandahar and Kapisa provinces are known worldwide. I would like to see government and private sector partnership in exporting of Pomegranate to abroad,” he said. The President also asked the Afghan embassies abroad to work for marketing of the Afghan products, adding the number of diplomats would be decreased in those embassies that fail to do so. Concluding his remarks, the President asked for increasing role of women in trade and economic affairs. Afghanistan exported 1300 tons of Pine Nuts last fiscal year, and according to officials, the value of exports could reach above one billion US dollar if needed steps are taken.
