Sunday November 16, 2014
Kabul (BNA) Supporting domestic productions is a national obligation that leads to the economic growth of the country and will rescues the country from dependency to foreign countries.
BNA economic analyst, commenting on the issue writes, President Ashraf Ghani recently visiting a factory that produces non-alcoholic beverages asked the people using the domestic products, take effective part in economic growth of their motherland. The demand of President Ghani comes in a time Afghanistan has changed in to a customer of foreign goods in the region. In contrast of the neighboring countries, imports most of goods needed from foreign countries, particularly, neighboring countries while the same products with better quality are available in the country, which affect badly the economy of the country especially the residents of the rural areas. While, Afghanistan previously was one of the major countries that exported fruits, but unfortunately, today is an advantageous market for Chinese and Pakistan’s fruits, while annually thousand tons of fruits produced by Afghan gardeners due to non-existence of fridges are spoiled and damaged. Likewise, three decades ago Afghanistan produced sufficient wheat and vegetables that met the demand of local markets, but today while, enjoying better facilities, but Afghans are the major consumers of flour and vegetables imported from neighboring countries. Another example of economic mismanagement is dealing with Afghan carpets.
This is, while Afghan in exhibition of carpets in international level, always been at focus of the visitors, but Afghans made carpets, markets and declining at local level and Afghan carpets are exported to international markets, bearing the brand of our neighboring countries. At the same time, Kabul and other big cities of our country have turned to advantageous markets for Turkey, Iran and Pakistan made carpets, which faced Afghan carpet weaves to sever problems. Many believe mismanagement and lack of control over imports are the main reason behind the problems, the Afghan carpet weavers and entire Afghan people are suffering. Also, Afghanistan has enormous possibilities for producing cement, which is vital for the reconstruction of the country. Previously, there were three factories namely, Jubalul-e-Saraj, Ghori and Herat cement factories that produced cement with high quality that not only met the requirement of the country, but exported. But, today due to lack of attention of the relevant authorities and mismanagement the products of the factories are at very low levels that in no way can meet the demands of present markets and needs of the people.
Therefore, considering this horrible situation, we urge the unity government making support of national products as one of its priorities by designing a strategy and adopting proper measures pave the way for national industries operations which without doubt leads to the economic growth of the country and prosperous life of the people.
