The Ministry of Industry and Commerce and officials from the International Trade Center discussed the draft five-year trade policy with the private sector at a gathering in Kabul on Saturday.

The meeting was held with the private sector to get their ideas on further development of the policy.

The national trade policy will be sent to the high economic council after it is finalized by the ministry.

The head of the International Trade Center office in Kabul, Sediqullah Mujaddidi, said the policy will help reduce the trade deficit in the country, increase exports and improve Afghanistan’s trade with the world.

“The new policy for five years will have a high impact on Afghanistan’s trade,” said Sediqullah Mujaddidi, head of the office of the International Trade Center in Kabul. “We hope that the policy will not only increase exports but will also improve Afghanistan’s trade rapidly.”

Officials from Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Industries (ACCI) said the lack of rule of international trade laws and a lack of required supportive plans from the private sector are key challenges for the sector.

“We are faced with many challenges at the moment. Many investors want to have lots of exports to Singapore but due to the lack of a clear policy, they are not accepting their goods,” said Khanjan Alokozai, the ACCI deputy head.

“The establishment of this policy will help us improve our trade relations with other countries and we will be able to solve our problems,” said Kamila Seddiqi, deputy minister of industry and commerce.

The ACCI meanwhile said government should take a powerful stance to solve trade problems with Pakistan. They said Pakistan has once again started creating problems for the export of Afghan apples and other fruit.

The Ministry of Industry and Commerce started working on the strategy last year.