The Ministry of Commerce and Industries is working on plans to increase the purchase of local products and implement more plans for boosting the market for the goods.

Addressing a government and the private sector forum, the deputy minister of commerce and industries, Farid Ahmad Mawlawizada, said they have effective plans to improve the country’s industries.

“Providing security is not our task; government should ensure our safety. The Afghan industries do not want more than that from the government,” he said.

Meanwhile, the deputy head of Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Industries Mohammad Yunus Mohmand said the main problems of domestic industries must be addressed.

“The country lacks infrastructure projects. We should not count only on Kabul. Just 10 kilometers from Kabul, you will face a lack of electricity and infrastructure,” he said.

Other participants stressed the need to improve local investments in the country.

“Some people have investments at home and they produce their products there. There are small companies, but they have very good products. We are trying to boost the market for their products inside the country and abroad,” said Feroz Khan Masjidi, the deputy minister of commerce and industries for industries.

Officials from the National Procurement Commission say they have plans to recognize the capacity of local companies based on which they will give them more of a share in government procurements.