KABUL: The Afghan government yesterday unveiled a new package of incentives to attract desperately needed investment to the war-torn country before Nato withdraws next year.
The new policies, which will remain in place for two and a half years, are designed to ease fears that billions of dollars in aid money could dry up and to encourage investors — both foreign and Afghan — to sink money into the economy.
“The goal of this policy is to support investment in different sectors, especially in industry, construction, agriculture and mining,” Finance Minister Azrat Omar Zakhilwal told reporters.
“It is also aimed at attracting local and international investments, and to prevent investments from leaving the country,” he said.The incentives include providing land at almost no cost to industrialists, seven-year tax exemptions for factory owners and 10-year, low-interest loans for farmers. They also offer one-year, multiple entry visas to foreign investors.
Economic development is considered a vital weapon to stop the country from sinking back into civil war and to stem Islamist extremism after 100,000 international combat troops pull out next year.AFP
