Robert Sauers/USAID
Minister of Commerce and Industries H.E. Anwar ul Haq Ahadi (left) and U.S. Ambassador Hans Klemm (right) unveil a permanent sign at the new USAID and GIZ funded export facility designed to simplify and expedite the processes needed to export Afghan goods into the global market.
Afghan traders will now have an easier time conducting export-oriented business after the Minister of Commerce and Industries H.E. Anwar ul Haq Ahadi and U.S. Ambassador Hans Klemm officially opened a new One-Stop Shop for Exports in Kabul today. Established by the Ministry of Commerce Export Promotion Agency for Afghanistan with support from USAID, the new facility is expected to significantly reduce document-processing time by enabling traders to complete all the necessary paperwork required to export their goods at one location.
Eleven different agencies are currently involved in providing certificates, authorizations and other documents needed to export goods. Traders must go to these agencies individually in various locations in and around Kabul in order to conduct their business, taking three to four days to complete all the export documentation procedures.
The new facility brings under one roof nine of these 11 different agencies, reducing the time it will take to complete the export certification process to mere hours at most.
“Increasing exports is critical to the goals of growing Afghanistan’s economy and creating new jobs. The Export Promotion Agency’s One-Stop Shop is a significant step in streamlining the process for our country’s traders. We would like to thank our partners at USAID and GIZ for their support in this effort,” said Minister Ahadi.
Opportunities for corruption in the areas of trade and customs will decrease because the new facility and processes will operate at a higher level of transparency. Afghan exporters will be the main beneficiaries of the facility, but overall, the whole country will gain from improvements in the Afghan export process.
“Increasing the efficiency and volume of exports means more export earnings, more investments, higher income to Afghan producers, and the creation of more long-term employment opportunities,” said Ambassador Klemm. “This new facility highlights our successful efforts with the Government of Afghanistan in the areas of trade and customs and demonstrates the U.S. Government’s commitment to the people of Afghanistan.”
USAID’s Trade and Accession Facilitation for Afghanistan (TAFA) project generates economic growth, trade, and investment by improving the conditions for international trade and transit.