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Minister of Industry and Commerce H.E Nisar Ahmad Faizi Ghoryani, ACCI’s First Deputy Mr. Haji Muhammad Younus Muhmand, Khan Jan Alokozay member of the board of directors, Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock, Directorate of the Customs and Senior Advisors to the President in Pakistan related issues attended the eighth meeting of the Afghan-Pak Transit Trade Coordination Authority (APTTCA) in Islamabad.

The purposes of this meeting are to look over the revision of APTTA as per the principles of the WTO, to eliminate the existing custom problems of the traders of both countries, and to enhance transit and commercial cooperation between the two countries.

Afghan – Pak Custom Information Exchange MoU was signed in the seventh meeting of the Afghan-Pak Transit Trade Coordination Authority (APTTCA) held on November/17^th/2020.    

ACCI’s Chairman Mr. Tawakal Ahmadyar chaired the ninth meeting of the third session of the board of directors with the participation of  ACCI’s First Deputy of the board of directors Mr. Haji Muhammad Younus Muhmand, Investment Deputy of the board of directors Mr. Sultan Muhammad Safi, head of the secretariat of the board of directors Khan Muhammad Sarfaraz Baz, head of the international relations of the board of directors Sayed Jawid Burhan, head of the finance of the board of directors Mr. Sherin Agha Sakhi, Azarakhash Hafizi, Zakaria Baryali, Muhammad Dawood Yousufzay, Ahmad Zia Azimi Shenozad, Jan Aqa Sadiqi, Ahmad Shakib Ahmadyar, Sayed Parwez Sadat Hofyani, and Haji Muhammad Gardezay, members of the board of directors, and ACCI’s Chief Executive Officer Mr. Sayed Zaman Hashimi.

Head of the secretariat of the board of directors, Khan Muhammad Sarfaraz Baz stated the agenda, and ACCI’s Chief Executive Officer Mr. Sayed Zaman Hashimi posed the suggestions of the Executive Board.

After hearing the reports and suggestions of the Executive Board, ACCI’s Chairman Mr. Tawakal Ahmadyar talked about the current situation of the Afghan trade, Herat travel’s achievements, and provided the required instructions to the Executive Board in implementing its policies to the best of their knowledge.

ACCI’s First Deputy of the board of directors Mr. Haji Muhammad Younus Muhmand and Investment Deputy of the board of directors Mr. Sultan Muhammad Safi provided the required instructions for the improvement and betterment of the provincial chambers, investment, and the financial and administrative affairs of the ACCI.

At the end of the meeting, the required decisions were taken about the suggestions of the Board of Directors and the Executive Board.

ACCI’s Chairman Mr. Tawakal Ahmadyar, ACCI’s First Deputy of the board of directors Mr. Haji Muhammad Younus Muhmand, Industry and Commercial Minister H.E Nisar Ahmad Faizi Ghoryani, Afghan Ambassador for Indonesia Mr. Faizullah Zaki, and presidents of different chambers met the Ex-Deputy of the Indonesian Presidential House and head of the Commercial Board of Directors Mr. Yousuf Kala and had a discussion about the expansion of the commercial relations.  

Mr. Tawakal Ahmadyar talked about the commercial and investment opportunities that exist in the two countries and hoped to have strong, stable, and expanded commercial relations with Indonesia in the future.

Mr. Muhammad Younus Mohmand said, “Afghanistan has good commercial relations with Indonesia, but unfortunately, there has been a harsh decrease of 35 million US dollars in commerce between the two countries.” He, furthermore, said that Afghanistan imports medicine and medical equipment from Indonesia while Afghan exports to Indonesia equals nothing.

He believes that the stoppage of exports through air corridors and lack of the required facilities in taking visas for Afghan traders are the biggest obstacles for the trade of the two countries.   

Industry and Commerce Minister H.E Ghoryani said, “There are numerous commercial and investment opportunities in Afghanistan, and the Afghan government is committed to providing the required facilities in this regard.”

Indonesian National Traders also talked about the sound commercial relations of Afghanistan and Indonesia and said that they would take considerable measures in order to further expand the commercial relations of the two countries.

After receiving multiple complaints from the Private Sector, ACCI objected the contract of (Petroleum Testing) signed between the Afghanistan National Standard Authority (ANSA) and TCRC Company and asked for its abolishment.

ACCI’s member of the board of directors and Afghan Petroleum Group’s head Mr. Muhammad Dawood Yousufzai said, “Government’s decision of giving (Petroleum Testing) contract to TCRC company causes unsound competition between petroleum importers.” He added that some companies import low-quality petroleum which not only causes damage to the economy of the country but also destroys the environment.

Director of Public Relations of the ACCI Mr. Amin Babak said, “Due to fraud and lack of the required facilities TCRC company was disqualified and referred to the Attorney General’s Office by H.E Muhammad Ashraf Ghani president of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan last year, but unfortunately, TCRC tests petroleum in all ports of the country nowadays which causes numerous problems for the private sector.”

He added that TCRC charges 3 US dollars for testing per ton of petroleum because of which TCRC receives 2 million US dollars every day. Meanwhile, it causes high petroleum prices and numerous troubles for the people.

Mr. Babak, furthermore, said that the income received from petroleum testing should be added to the national treasury. The best way of which is that the Afghanistan National Standard Authority (ANSA) takes the responsibility of petroleum testing. Moreover, people who have the responsibility of petroleum testing are the stakeholders of the TCRC company. 

Traders and petroleum importers said that the employees of the TCRC company are unprofessional and works with a very low quality which causes not only many problems during the testing process but also makes the investors not to invest in the country.

Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Investment (ACCI)'s First Deputy Mr. Muhammad Younus Muhmand, Khan Jan Alokozay, Muhammad Dawood Yousufzai, Muhammad Gardezay, and Ahmad Zia Azimi Shenozada members of the board of directors met with the newly employed Deputy of the Customs and Revenue Mr. Mujeeb Rahman Shirzad and had a discussion about the problems of the traders and mutual cooperation.

Mr. Muhammad Younus Muhmand congratulated Mr. Mujeeb Rahman Shirzad on his appointment and said that traders are facing serious problems regarding goods financial clearings in the customs of the country.

He, furthermore, said that the joint cooperation between ACCI and the Afghanistan Customs and Revenue Department can lead to economic development, a considerable increase in the revenue of the country and putting an end to the existing problems of the traders.

Mr. Mujeeb Rahman Shirzad promised to provide legal solutions to the problems of the traders in the customs of the country.