(MENAFN) Taliban-led Afghanistan has formed a consortium of 14 Afghan businessmen and companies from Russia, Iran and Pakistan to create an investment plan with a focus on power, mining and infrastructure. The consortium plans to send delegates to Kabul to explore projects worth up to USD1 billion. The Afghan economy has been severely affected since the Taliban took over in 2021, causing the international community to cut development funding and impose sanctions on the banking sector. Attacks by Daesh against foreign targets have also discouraged investors. However, the Taliban administration is aiming to launch several long-term business plans, including special economic zones, and is working on ensuring security.
The Taliban administration is planning to concentrate on constructing special economic zones that it hopes will attract foreign investment. The ministry of commerce has developed a plan to transform foreign bases into the zones, and a board has been set up with representatives from different ministries. The Taliban is also focused on ensuring security, with discussions on security taking place in cabinet meetings, the formation of commissions, and the destruction of militants' hiding places.
The consortium of businesses is considering projects such as a second tunnel through the Salang pass, diverting water from northern Panjshir province to the capital, and rebuilding the main highway linking Kabul to western Herat province. The consortium is also interested in power and mining projects. Last year, Afghanistan started receiving shipments of oil, gas and wheat through Central Asia after payments were made through banking channels, despite sanctions limiting international payments. However, the details of how the payments were facilitated were not disclosed.
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