It is determined that the Bagram airbase will be changed to an economic zone in the near future as initial investigation into a plan to change the base to an economic zone has been completed by the Ministry of Economy.
Abdul Latif Nazari, Deputy Minister of Economy, has said that the initial investigation into a plan to turn Bagram Air Force base into an economic zone has been completed. He said that due to its expanded area, Bagram was a proper option for becoming an economic zone.
“The Bagram Air Base is a proper place for becoming an economic zone based on assessment. It has both potentials for economic expansion and facilities,” he said.
Meanwhile, Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Investment (ACCI) by welcoming the plan of the ministry of economy says the air base is located close to the country’s industrial parks; therefore, changing it to the economic zone will provide ground for the development of the country’s domestic products.
“Bagram is both near to the factories and industrial parks. There are two or three parks located in this area. Besides, there are fruits and vegetables produced in Kapisa, Parwan and Panjshir,” said Khanjan Alokozai, a member of the Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Investment.
In the meantime, a number of Afghan economists believe that the only way to save the crisis of hunger and poverty in Afghanistan is to launch economic projects in the country. According to the country’s economists, by launching more economic projects in the country, our people can get jobs and poverty will be then rooted out in the country.
“Fortunately, Afghanistan is an agricultural country where the majority of people are engaged in agriculture. If the government provides ground or provide modern equipment for the country’s farmers, the country can then produce more agricultural products and help change Afghanistan to top exporters of agricultural products in the region,” said Abdul Saboor, an Afghan economic expert.
Currently, hundreds of thousands of Afghans are looking for jobs and facing with various challenges. Increasing unemployment has added to the problems of millions of people in the country as millions of people are facing poverty.
He praised the ministry of the economy for its plan towards changing the Bagram air base to an economic zone.
A number of the country’s traders and farmers have also welcomed the ministry of economy’s plan for changing the Bagram air base to an economic zone, saying that creating economic zones can change the poor life of the people.
According to the country’s traders, if goods are transported from outside through the north gate, the Bagram economic zone will be the right place to unload the goods of merchants, and traders. They say the area will soon change to an economic zone in the region.
They asked the IEA for cooperation in this regard.
It is worth mentioning that Bagram Air Base, located 11 km southeast of Charikar in Parwan, is currently under the Ministry of Defense of the Islamic Emirate. Sitting on the site of the ancient Bagram, the air base has two concrete runways and was previously used as one of the main bases for U.S. troops during the U.S.’s military presence in Afghanistan.
Shukria Kohistani
A glance at Bagram airbase
