Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Industries (ACCI) on Tuesday said at the second meeting of chief executive directors of private companies in Kabul that trade and investment have been steadily decreasing in the country in the past few years. 

According to the ACCI, from 2014 up to now, the annual value of trade and investment has dropped by 50 percent. 

ACCI asked delegates at the meeting to outline a plan to overcome key challenges facing the business sector - including political instability, kidnapping and corruption. 

ACCI deputy head Khan Jan Alokozay said insecurity is the main reason behind the drop in investment and that political instability and corruption are other key challenges in the way of investment growth in the private sector. 

“In 2013 and 2014 the total amount circulated in investment, trade, imports, exports and services was between $15 billion and $16 billion USD. But last year the amount was $7 billion USD and this year it is not even $6 billion USD. Trade has suffered a lot and this is because of insecurity,” Alokozay said. 

Organizers of the conference said that holding such meetings will provide the opportunity for more cooperation between investors and will result in expanding investment in the country. 

“We are a service provider institution and holding talks with executive directors and the decision makers is very important for us to first recognize the problems and then resolve them,” Amir Khalil ul-Rahman, executive director of a private bank said. 

The investors, traders and businessmen and women said having such meetings will help them to discuss problems and overcome them.