Afghan President Inaugurates Cotton Processing Plant In Herat City

Event & Conferences

Afghan President Inaugurates Cotton Processing Plant In Herat City

President Ashraf Ghani opened a US$ 7 million cotton-processing plant in industrial park in western Herat province in Afghanistan. Haider Hameed, a representative of the plant White Afghan Gold, said, "We purchase 20 tonnes of cotton from growers on a daily basis. Our daily production, qualitatively comparable with what is produced by regional countries, is six tonnes." Hameedullah Khadim, head of Herat Mines and Industrial Chamber, thanked the president for helping promote industrial development in Afghanistan, particularly Herat. He acknowledged Ghani's economic initiatives had led to the establishment of 30 new factories in the Herat industrial park. The new units would play a key role in the country's economic development, he hoped.

Governor Mohammad Asif Rahimi urged the president to approve a special police unit for the industrial park's security to encourage further investments. "Our primary goal is to make Herat our future development and transit hub. Herat City will link Iran, China and Central Asian states…A railroad will be inaugurated within weeks, with cement transportation in focus."

President Ghani also proposed an exclusive industrial park for marbles. "In the first step, China will purchase from us marbles worth $5 million. We hope marbles will become our significant export. The train coming here from China returns empty. From now on, the train will return from Herat full of marbles," he observed, acknowledging customs related irritants for traders.

Unhappy with the performance of Islam Qala, Zaranj, Aqina and Hairatan ports, he said, "This injustice is acceptable neither to the people nor me." He promised the Presidential Palace would oversee the ports till they were reformed, he promised. About unemployment, Ghani said the people should realise the importance of the private sector. The government alone could not offer jobs to tens of millions of individuals, he concluded.