On 22 October 2013, Bakhtar News published a report titled Afghanistan Exports Increase By 40%, Says Haqjo. In summary it states that Afghan exports increased 40% for the first quarter, compared to last year. I believe this will continue to increase at notable rates over the next few years. This increase will continue to put money into the Afghan pocket. The increases generally come from a few key factors. One of these factors is better Ground Lines of Communication for the goods to make their way out of Afghanistan and into the markets and shops of neighboring states such as Pakistan and Iran. The last decade of stability and development operations in Afghanistan have provided great evolution in road development. Even with perceivable setback from the international coalition’s objectives, many roads have been developed lowering travel times and creating physically safer routes.
One of the key factors involved is the Torkham Gate Customs site which the International Coalition has poured money and time additional resources into in order to develop it into a fully functioning, state of the art international border crossing site. There is no question the resources poured into the facility have greatly advanced its speed, accuracy, safety and overall functionality over the years. This has therefore made the transit of goods and people between Afghanistan and Pakistan far better than what it was in the past.
The Afghan economy is no Central Asia miracle, yet; however we are going to see it grow and grow and having nowhere to go but up. The critical challenge is for the Government of Afghanistan to avoid an increase in corruption and decrease existing corruption of what we call “on budget” finances. Having exports dramatically increase is great if the tax profits go back into the Government & private sectors and therefore spread throughout society at all levels. However it is not great if this money is squandered away by the exact same politicians charged with supporting & representing the people of Afghanistan. The economy is only going to grow and continue to grow beyond what we can imagine currently. Being a primary waypoint along the New Silk Road – and with the Russian-Sino competition currently flourishing in Central Asia opening up new routes, signing massive contracts and effectively creating a global market in the heart of Eurasia along the New Silk Road – Afghanistan’s has the opportunity to be a, if not the, key player in the Eurasian market.
The New Silk Road as the commercial boulevard of Eurasian trade is only one opportunity for Afghanistan to go from a barely functioning economy surviving off of international aid, to become a behemoth of trade. South Asian trade is bound to dramatically fill the wallets of the Afghan economy. Exports increasing is also from production increasing, and as production increases the southern border of Afghanistan will expand its trade-load. With critical ports being developed in Pakistan and Iran along the coast, and key routes (rail & road) connecting the landlocked Central Asian nation to fully function & globally connected ports, goods will become infused into the global market as a whole, but specifically throughout South Asia and even pushing into the Middle East to the West and South East Asia to the East.
This was originally published http://brandonscottblog.com/2013/11/02/afghanistan-the-new-silk-road/
One of the key factors involved is the Torkham Gate Customs site which the International Coalition has poured money and time additional resources into in order to develop it into a fully functioning, state of the art international border crossing site. There is no question the resources poured into the facility have greatly advanced its speed, accuracy, safety and overall functionality over the years. This has therefore made the transit of goods and people between Afghanistan and Pakistan far better than what it was in the past.
The Afghan economy is no Central Asia miracle, yet; however we are going to see it grow and grow and having nowhere to go but up. The critical challenge is for the Government of Afghanistan to avoid an increase in corruption and decrease existing corruption of what we call “on budget” finances. Having exports dramatically increase is great if the tax profits go back into the Government & private sectors and therefore spread throughout society at all levels. However it is not great if this money is squandered away by the exact same politicians charged with supporting & representing the people of Afghanistan. The economy is only going to grow and continue to grow beyond what we can imagine currently. Being a primary waypoint along the New Silk Road – and with the Russian-Sino competition currently flourishing in Central Asia opening up new routes, signing massive contracts and effectively creating a global market in the heart of Eurasia along the New Silk Road – Afghanistan’s has the opportunity to be a, if not the, key player in the Eurasian market.
The New Silk Road as the commercial boulevard of Eurasian trade is only one opportunity for Afghanistan to go from a barely functioning economy surviving off of international aid, to become a behemoth of trade. South Asian trade is bound to dramatically fill the wallets of the Afghan economy. Exports increasing is also from production increasing, and as production increases the southern border of Afghanistan will expand its trade-load. With critical ports being developed in Pakistan and Iran along the coast, and key routes (rail & road) connecting the landlocked Central Asian nation to fully function & globally connected ports, goods will become infused into the global market as a whole, but specifically throughout South Asia and even pushing into the Middle East to the West and South East Asia to the East.
This was originally published http://brandonscottblog.com/2013/11/02/afghanistan-the-new-silk-road/
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