Afghanistan is Open for Business

"Afghanistan is trying to make it easier to do business in the country with a new business visa on arrival. "

Afghanistan is trying to make it easier to do business in the country.

It has just opened a new visa office at the Kabul international airport that allows certain foreign workers to receive a visa upon arrival.

Under the new visa scheme, certain foreign investors are able to walk up a office at the Hamid Karzay airport at get a visa on arrival.

Border police chief general Haqnawaz Haqyar says they are trying to catch up with the rest of the world.

“Most countries has this kind of consulate office inside the airport, now we have it as well and we are happy that can give Visa for those foreigner investors and businessmen who want to enter legally to Afghanistan,” he said.  

Foreign investors will also be able to receive a visa valid for up to three years, in contrast to the previous visas which were valid for just six months.

The government says economic development is a vital weapon to stop the country from sinking back into civil war after most of the US-led international troops pulled out last year.

“Achieving economic growth is at the top of national unity government’s priority list.  We want to encourage and attraction foreign investment,” explained foreign ministry spokesperson Abdul Shikeeb Mustaghni.

The ministry said that they are targeting investors from the USA, Canada, Australia, Europe, Japan and Russia with the new visa scheme. The Afghan investment support agency (AISA) welcomes the moves.

But spokesperson Ebrahim Shams says there are other challenges that need to be addressed:  “Such as security, lack of good governance, the foreign troop withdrawing and security transition to Afghan forces and the election problem. I hope that with the international community’s commitment and support, these challenges will also be overcome and we will have more investment in Afghanistan.”

• eng
• Afghan investment
• visa on arrival
• Afghan civil war
• Ghayor Waziri