Afghan industry leaders, small business owners and public sector representatives met earlier this month to explore provincial trade challenges and solutions that can feed into the ongoing design of the country’s National Export Strategy (NES).
The Strategy is intended to set out a blueprint for competitiveness and development of the country’s export sector and strengthen links between export development and socio-economic growth.
It will provide national and international development partners with an appropriate implementation plan for trade-related operations.
Jointly organised by Afghanistan’s Ministry of Commerce and Industries (MOCI) and the Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Industries (ACCI), the event follows the first NES stakeholders’ consultation held in Kabul in February 2017.
Deputy Minister for Commerce Mohammad Qurban Haqjo said: “The strong public and private sector dialogue that has taken place today on topics, such as quality management, skills development and market intelligence, will be invaluable in developing a sustainable and inclusive NES.”
The NES initiative falls under the auspices of the EU-funded “Advancing Afghanistan Trade” project, which aims to assist the country in improving the conditions to use trade as a lever for enhanced regional co-operation, economic and human development and poverty reduction.
Afghanistan acceded to the World Trade Organization (WTO) in July 2016 and has placed trade and regional economic co-operation at the heart of its development strategy.
Further information about the Advancing Afghan Trade project can be found here.
