Chamber of Commerce Chief Confident in Boosting Large Investments

The newly appointed head of the Chamber of Commerce and Investment told Tolo News that businessmen are encouraging joint investments in various manufacturing sectors.

Sayed Karim Hashimi, the head of the Chamber of Commerce and Investment, says he has been active in the field of commerce and investment for the past forty years.

According to the head of the Chamber, regular payment of taxes, a clean record free of economic crimes, and transparent and honest business practices are important conditions for holding the chairmanship of this chamber. He was selected from among more than four thousand candidates over more than a year.

Hashimi considers creating job opportunities for people, fostering coordination and unity among businessmen, and gaining government support to facilitate business as his main plans and responsibilities.

Hashimi said: “We want to be of one mind and have mutual understanding. We should help each other, gather small investments, and turn them into a large investment. We should establish joint-stock and cooperative companies. We must have processing factories so that we become self-sufficient in terms of energy and fuel.”

The head of the Chamber of Commerce and Investment says he will try to start large investments in the production and industrial sectors by pooling small investments to create job opportunities for people and move Afghanistan toward development.

However, some economic analysts believe that if the leadership of the Chamber of Commerce and Investment does not receive government support, it will not succeed in attracting investments and coordinating businessmen’s activities.

Economic analyst Mir Shakir Yaqubi says: “In my opinion, attracting foreign investment is the most necessary and important thing in the economy, but this will not happen as long as there are restrictions in the Chamber of Commerce, as long as government pressure and some other factors exist, it will be difficult.”

Although many challenges remain, such as banking restrictions, lack of official diplomatic relations, and limited financial facilities, the new leadership of the Chamber of Commerce and Investment expresses hope that through close coordination with relevant ministries, the private sector will be able to play an effective role in the country’s economic growth.