Editor in Chief: Moh. Reza Huwaida Friday, March 29th, 2024

EU Pledges Support for Afghanistan’s Economic Uplift

EU Pledges Support for  Afghanistan’s Economic Uplift

EU envoy said they will support Afghanistan’s trade through the ‘Advancing Afghan Trade’ project.
KABUL - Representatives of the EU Delegation in Kabul, the government and the private sector met in Kabul on Saturday.
They discussed Third Project Steering Committee of the Advancing Afghan Trade (AAT) project, facilitated by the International Trade Centre.
Facilitated by the International Trade Centre, ATT is an EU-funded initiative, launched in November 2016, which aims to strengthen the country’s trade capacity so as to capitalise on the country’s accession to the World Trade Organisation.
The project supports Afghanistan to improve its business environment to help its products to integrate regional and global value chains.
Participants reviewed progress over the last 3 years of the project and discussed plans for activities to be further implemented until the end of this phase in six-month time.
“Working on trade in Afghanistan is working on peace. We are supporting the Afghan government's trade agenda through the Advancing Afghan Trade,” said the head of the EU Delegation in Afghanistan
Pierre Mayaudon added the EU prioritised economic integration and connectivity as a key to achieving peace.
“I announce the continuation of the EU's support for years 2020-24 through phase 2 of the project, funded by €12 million,” Mayaudon added.
The 'Advancing Afghan Trade' project supports MoIC's objective to reach $1.0bn of exports this year, said Ajmal Ahmady, minister of industry & commerce.
In the coming months, until the end of phase 1, the project will further support bilateral dialogue with trading partners from the region.
It will also help coach SMEs on exports procedures, launch the Afghanistan trade portal, see the Afghanistan National Trade Policy officially endorsed by the government and finalise preparations and design for phase 2 due to start in the 1st quarter of 2020.  (Pajhwok)