Brader: Afghan Products Must Be Competitive in Regional Markets

DID Press: Acting Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar has called for higher-quality domestic production and stronger capacity for Afghan products to compete in regional markets during a visit to the Mufid manufacturing company in Balkh province.

Abdul Ghani Baradar said domestic products should not only meet demand within Afghanistan but also meet quality standards that enable them to compete in regional markets and create opportunities for exports.

Mufid was established in Balkh with an investment of about $30 million and produces edible oils as well as feed for livestock and poultry. Company officials said the facility has the capacity to meet a significant share of domestic demand.

The visit comes as the Taliban seeks to promote domestic production and reduce Afghanistan’s reliance on imported goods. Baradar had previously laid the foundation stone for the Imam Shafiq Balkhi Industrial Park in Hairatan, a project planned on an area of about 22,000 jeribs.

Balkh is an important industrial and commercial center because of its location along major trade routes and its access to the Hairatan Port. Expanding industrial capacity in the province could increase Afghanistan’s domestic production and export potential.