Afghanistan Invites Indian Investors with 5-Year Tax Exemption for Gold Mining
Commerce Minister Azizi promises low import fees and land support but asks for local job creation.
New Delhi: Afghanistan is opening its doors to Indian businesses. On Monday, Afghanistan’s Industry and Commerce Minister, Alhaj Nooruddin Azizi, announced that his government is offering a five-year tax break to Indian companies willing to invest in new sectors, including gold mining.
Minister Azizi made this announcement during a meeting organized by the business group Assocham. He highlighted that Afghanistan has huge business potential and very little competition right now.
Key Incentives for Investors To attract Indian companies, the Afghan government is offering several benefits:
- Tax Breaks: A five-year exemption from taxes for investments in new sectors.
- Land Support: The government is ready to provide land for business operations.
- Low Tariffs: Companies importing machinery for their projects will only be charged a 1% tariff (import tax).
Focus on Gold Mining and Jobs The Minister specifically encouraged Indian companies to look into gold mining. He suggested that companies send their technical teams to do research and exploration first.
However, there is one important condition. Minister Azizi stated, “We expect the processing to be done within the country so that jobs can be created for our people.”
Overcoming Trade Hurdles During his six-day visit to India, the Minister also spoke about the challenges facing trade. He mentioned that tensions with Pakistan create difficulties for moving goods.
He urged Indian officials to fix “minor” issues that are slowing down business. “We want to build a strong relationship between India and Afghanistan,” Azizi said. He emphasized the need to resolve issues related to visas, air travel routes, and banking transactions to help trade grow.
