Private sector key to Afghanistan’s economic growth: UNDP — Pajhwok

KABUL (Pajhwok): The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has highlighted the critical role of the private sector in Afghanistan’s economic growth, stressing the need to expand access to finance, support small and medium-sized enterprises and create employment opportunities. The remarks were made during a private sector dialogue organised by UNDP in Kabul, attended by UNDP Administrator Alexander De Croo, representatives of the private sector and microfinance institutions. Participants discussed the role of the private sector in Afghanistan’s economic recovery, improving access to financial resources, supporting micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), strengthening women-led businesses, creating jobs, revitalising markets and building long-term economic resilience. Speaking at the event, De Croo said Afghanistan had made significant progress in several areas in recent years and that these achievements should be shared with the international community. He said notable progress had been made in security and stability, fighting corruption, and reducing illegal poppy cultivation and drug trafficking, with poppy cultivation declining by 95 percent. De Croo said the world was not sufficiently aware of these developments and that informing the international community about such progress was among UNDP’s responsibilities. He said development assistance alone could not address Afghanistan’s challenges, noting that more than six million returnees had arrived in the country over the past two years, representing around 15 percent of the population. He…