Editorial: Looking after industrial development

Since the establishment of the interim government, hundreds of local and foreign entrepreneurs have shown an interest in investing in Afghanistan. And the government has sought to give them this opportunity. In order to facilitate access and reduce the amount of red tape, the government revised investment legislation and set up the AISA (Afghan Investment Support Agency) as a way of attracting more investors. There are currently many manufacturing plants operating in Afghanistan, but their owners complain that the government is not doing enough to help them market their products, but rather encourages neighbouring countries to export to Afghanistan. Some time ago, an electronics factory based in Herat halted operations because of high running costs and the flood of foreign products on Afghan markets. A few days ago, a large group of Afghans resident abroad sent an open letter to President Karzai asking him to clear away the legal obstructions that are created by certain officials and judges. An Afghan merchant invested millions of dollars and set up a manufacturing plant in Mazar-e-Sharif to provide jobs for hundreds of unemployed people, but he pull his money out and leave the country after a court ruled in favour of another person in a land dispute.