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• GDP: US$5.8 billion (IMF, 2006).
• Main exports: Fruit, nuts, vegetables and carpets.
• Main imports: Capital goods, food, textiles and petroleum products.
• Main trade partners: Exports to: Pakistan, EU, India and Russia; Imports from: Pakistan, Japan, Kenya and Korea (Rep).
• Main exports: Fruit, nuts, vegetables and carpets.
• Main imports: Capital goods, food, textiles and petroleum products.
• Main trade partners: Exports to: Pakistan, EU, India and Russia; Imports from: Pakistan, Japan, Kenya and Korea (Rep).
Economy
Twenty-four years of continuous war completely wrecked the Afghan economy. Reconstruction of the agricultural sector, which accounted for about half of GDP, has been severely hampered by abandonment of farms and the huge number of minefields. Agricultural problems have led to recurring food shortages. Afghanistan has had to rely heavily on foreign aid. Many farmers have come to rely on growing opium as a relatively lucrative cash crop – both the Taleban and now the Karzai government have attempted to limit production, with mixed success.
The industrial sector, which barely functions, was formerly concentrated in mining and some manufacturing. There are significant deposits of natural gas, coal, salt, barite and other ores. The small manufacturing sector produces textiles, chemical fertilisers, leather and plastics. Some trade links have been established with the former Soviet Central Asian republics but Pakistan and Saudi Arabia are now the strongest economic influences in the country.
There have also been some positive advancements in recent years: in January 2003, Afghanistan signed a trilateral trade agreement with Iran and India that designated the Iranian port of Chabahar as a major port for Afghanistan. In September 2003, representatives of Afghanistan and its neighbours, China, Iran, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan met in Dubai to forge new trade dynamics and foster investment gradually. There seems to have been a genuine attempt to revivify the Afghan economy.
The industrial sector, which barely functions, was formerly concentrated in mining and some manufacturing. There are significant deposits of natural gas, coal, salt, barite and other ores. The small manufacturing sector produces textiles, chemical fertilisers, leather and plastics. Some trade links have been established with the former Soviet Central Asian republics but Pakistan and Saudi Arabia are now the strongest economic influences in the country.
There have also been some positive advancements in recent years: in January 2003, Afghanistan signed a trilateral trade agreement with Iran and India that designated the Iranian port of Chabahar as a major port for Afghanistan. In September 2003, representatives of Afghanistan and its neighbours, China, Iran, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan met in Dubai to forge new trade dynamics and foster investment gradually. There seems to have been a genuine attempt to revivify the Afghan economy.
Business Etiquette
Price bargaining is expected and oral agreements are honoured. Formal wear is expected and meetings should be pre-arranged.
Office hours: Generally Sat-Wed 0800-1200 and 1300-1630, Thurs 0800-1330.
Office hours: Generally Sat-Wed 0800-1200 and 1300-1630, Thurs 0800-1330.
Business Contacts
Afghan Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Mohammad Jan Khan Watt, Kabul, Afghanistan
Tel: (2) 290 090.
Federation of Afghan Chambers of Commerce and Industry
Daraulaman Wat, Kabul, Afghanistan
Mohammad Jan Khan Watt, Kabul, Afghanistan
Tel: (2) 290 090.
Federation of Afghan Chambers of Commerce and Industry
Daraulaman Wat, Kabul, Afghanistan
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