Stability, access to electricity to help boost investment in Nangarhar

Nangarhar Chamber of Commerce and Industry officials say investments have increased in the province compared to the past and could further increase if problem facing security and electricity resolved.

Shakirullah Safi, spokesman for the provincial Chamber of Commerce and Industry Department, told Afghan News that lack of security and electricity was a major obstacle for investment in Nangarhar.

He said three major industrial parks including Sheikh Misri, Hasar Shahi and Carpet Weaving in Jalalabad, the provincial capital, had the capacity for 1,700 factories but only 300 factories were now active due to security problem and shortage of electricity.

According to Safi $35 million had been invested in those factories where 11,000 people were employed as workers.

There are many other factories functioning in melting metals, processing marble and producing soap, shampoo, plastic goods and other products, he said.

Safi added lack of electricity and insecurity were major problems for investment. If these problems resolved, foreign investors have assured us to invest in more areas in Nangarhar, he said.

He said they have several times discussed the mentioned problems with provincial and Kabul officials who had assured them to resolve them, but they did not take any action so far.

Chamber of commerce and industry department head, Shir Alam Amlawal confirmed shortage of electricity and insecurity in the province.

Meanwhile, the governor’s spokesman, Attaullah Khogyani, said the provincial administration had taken steps to resolve the mentioned problems and the problem with Shaikh Misri Park was somehow resolved.

He said the Da Afghanistan Breshna Shirkat (DABS) has promised to provide electricity to some of industrial parks in order to solve the power shortage problem.

Although, President Ashraf Ghani had insisted on investing in the country and ordered all the officials to cooperate with businessmen, but insecurity and lack of electricity problems still persist in Nangarhar.