Industrialists and traders have called on the Taliban to urgently resolve a host of obstacles hampering business, including persistent electricity shortages, land allocation issues, delays in customs clearance, lack of access to international markets, and the high cost of transportation.
The demands were raised during a meeting on Thursday with Taliban economic officials in Kabul, where the private sector urged concrete reforms to revive the country’s struggling economy.
The meeting happened between at least 150 industrialists and traders with Taliban officials in Kabul.
The gathering, held at the Marmarin Palace, included representatives from the office of the Taliban’s deputy chief minister for economic affairs and the Taliban’s Ministry of Finance.
Business leaders raised concerns over persistent electricity shortages, inadequate infrastructure in industrial parks, and the need for improved export and transit procedures.
According to a statement released by the Taliban, traders also demanded action on the establishment of air corridors, reductions in tariffs for agricultural and mineral products, lower transport costs, streamlined customs procedures, cold storage development, and business visa processing. The delegation also sought broader access to international markets and improved logistics infrastructure.
The statement said that Taliban officials assured the business community that relevant ministries have already begun work on several of the issues and promised that additional concerns would be taken up with the Taliban Economic Commission.
“The government is committed to supporting the country’s traders and industrialists,” the statement said, noting that concrete measures are underway and that ongoing coordination with various ministries will continue.
Since returning to power in 2021, the Taliban have faced a deepening economic crisis exacerbated by international isolation, a banking collapse, and declining foreign aid. The private sector, which once relied heavily on cross-border trade and donor funding, has struggled under the pressure of sanctions, limited access to capital, and infrastructure deficiencies.
Business leaders continue to cite logistical hurdles, regulatory uncertainty, and limited government support as major impediments to recovery.
