The two paper mills active in Afghanistan exported more than 1,800 tons of paper to Central Asian nations and Turkey, said factory officials.

The products were exported within the past two weeks, the officials said, adding that they will continue their exports overseas. 

 The factories are the Bahir Companies Group and Paktia Paper.  

However, a lack of electricity and the troubled banking system are still unsolved problems for Afghan traders and investors.  

“There are electricity problems and also the transition of money to other countries to purchase raw materials (is a problem),” said Naveed Hakimi, a member of the Bahir Companies Group.  

The Afghanistan Chamber of Industry and Mines (ACIM) said that Afghanistan has been producing four times more paper than is needed in the country. 

“There are two modern factories to produce A-4 paper in Afghanistan. The product amount has been four or five times bigger than the demands in the national market,” said Sakhi Ahmad Paiman, head of the ACIM. 

The products are being exported via Hairatan port to Uzbekistan.  

One the two factories is in Paktika.  

“We are looking to launch the second and third phase of this company, so we can enter the major markets in the region,” said Mahbobullah Mahbob, a member of the Paktia Paper company.  

More than 150 printing factories are active in Afghanistan.