Afghanistan Times
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KABUL – In a bid to stimulate economic growth and attract capital back to Afghanistan, Abdul Ghani Baradar, the Taliban’s deputy prime minister, announced Thursday that special incentives will be provided to Afghan investors returning to the country. Speaking at the “National Call for Domestic Investment” conference in Kabul, Baradar revealed a package aimed at luring Afghan businesspeople back to invest in various sectors of the economy.
Baradar highlighted a series of benefits for industrialists and returning investors, including a five-year exemption from all taxes except employee payroll taxes for those who establish new industries. “According to the procedures prepared for industrialists and returning investors, they will be exempt from all taxes for five years, except for payroll taxes,” he stated.
Additionally, imported machinery and tools for industrial use will be exempt from customs duties, and foreign employees and engineers hired by returning investors will be eligible for two-year visas. Baradar assured attendees that the Taliban government would provide full cooperation to support their investments.
Appealing to Afghan investors abroad, he said, “I call on all Afghan industrialists and investors outside the country to transfer their investments to Afghanistan to contribute to the nation’s development.”
While the announcement signals an effort to bolster the country’s struggling private sector, it comes amid persistent concerns over Afghanistan’s political and economic instability. Critics argue that despite these incentives, challenges such as high taxation and an uncertain business environment could continue to deter investment.
The success of the Taliban’s new measures will depend largely on the extent to which investors regain confidence in the country’s future stability.
