Economic Growth Potential in Afghanistan

Today, power lies in the economy.

A country whose economy is weak

will be trampled underfoot by bullies

and arrogant powers.

As someone who has taken a few economics classes and spent more than thirty

years in executive and legislative positions

in Iran, and as a member of the presidium

of the Seventh Development Plan Integration Commission

of Iran,

I proudly state that dear Afghanistan

will rank

first in the surge

in economic growth rates in the region

over the next ten years. This is a fact.

Why do I say this?

First, I congratulate this country's economic officials

for focusing on Afghanistan's

economic capacities. I will mention a few examples

that I have personally observed up close.

One of the capacities in the world today

is soil and water.

This country has 65 billion cubic meters of

renewable water, of which, unfortunately, only

a small portion is used in this country.

Yesterday, I had the honor of visiting the National Company,

Afghanistan’s National Development Company and its

highly capable director, Mr. Atash, to visit.

The major Qosh Tepa Canal project, spanning

285 kilometers, with a capacity of 68

cubic meters per second, will surely bring

a transformation in agriculture, food

industries and processing industries, from rice

to textiles and transportation, God willing.

It can almost double Afghanistan’s agricultural

production.

The second capacity is Afghanistan’s mines. You can see

a list from the periodic table in Afghanistan,

and I appreciate this view of the Afghan

officials, who do not want to move toward selling raw materials,

and are seeking joint investment.

From iron and copper to precious stones and