Transforming Afghanistan into a Regional Trade Hub through Export and Connectivity

Speech at the Ceremony for the First Export Shipment from Afghanistan to India through Chabahar Port

Keypoints:

• Transformation: Shift to an export oriented connected economy.
• Regional Connectivity: Expand trade links with regional partners.
• Export Growth: Increase Afghan exports and market access.
• Private Sector: Strengthen business partnership for growth.
• Infrastructure Use: Leverage transit routes for trade.
• Revenue Reform: Improve efficiency and domestic income.
• Self Reliance: Reduce aid dependence through productivity.
• International Cooperation: Deepen economic diplomacy.

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

Dear residents of Nimruz, respected sisters and brothers, honorable compatriots, esteemed advisors, honorable members of the cabinet, Respected Chief of Staff, members of parliament, members of the provincial council, the honorable ambassadors of Iran, India, and Turkey, and all attendees of this gathering, Peace be upon you!

Today, we are not merely welcoming a project; rather, we are representing and putting into action a profound shift in perspective and narrative. What are some examples of this? This morning, the Chairman of the Nimruz Provincial Council stated that we no longer speak of a "deprived Nimruz," but rather of a "prosperous and fertile Nimruz."

This Nimruz is not the Nimruz of eighteen years ago, nor is it the Nimruz of four years ago. The reason for this transformation is that our governance outlook, the relationship between the private sector and the state, and the state's ties with our neighbors and regional economic partners have shifted fundamentally. The noble people of Nimruz—our sisters and brothers—are now seeing the tangible results of this shift.

Nimruz is transforming from a neglected province back into a key province and one of the central economic and cultural gravitational hubs of Afghanistan. Let us remember that the first historic patron of Dari poetry was Ya'qub ibn al-Layth al-Saffar from Sistan, and today I congratulate the people of Nimruz on the revival of the University of Nimruz.

Secondly, the Silk Road was a myth for past generations. At one time, we were part of a vast civilization where our cities were linked like jewels in a regional necklace. Today, the regional connectivity of the Silk Road is no longer a myth—it is a reality. Afghanistan is not a landlocked country; it is the Heart of Asia and has become the roundabout of Asia. Therefore, I extend my specific gratitude to the honorable governments of Iran, India, and Turkey, whose respected ambassadors are present here today, as the Lapis Lazuli Route was established through their close cooperation.

The third shift in narrative lies in the fact that today, Afghanistan is transitioning from an importing nation into an exporting nation. I congratulate the private sector of Afghanistan and Respected Mr. Ajmal Ahmadi that, for the first time, Afghanistan’s exports have exceeded one billion dollars. The target that Mr. Ahmadi has set for the coming year is to double Afghanistan's exports to two billion dollars, Inshallah—and this is just the beginning. This transformation will have a lasting and sustainable impact on our lives. Every product exported from Afghanistan connects hundreds of villages and millions of our people to the world. The language of connection is the language of economics. We must embrace this shift in narrative and prove to ourselves and the world that the Afghanistan of today is not the Afghanistan of yesterday.

This country, which was constantly discussed in terms of administrative corruption, violence, and inefficiency, is today a center of economic momentum. If you want a living example, look at the World Bank metrics, where Afghanistan achieved the top ranking in private sector reforms. I congratulate all our colleagues on this achievement.

A Call to the Private Sector: Partnership and Collaboration

My second message is addressed to our private sector. 

Thank you very much, Respected Mr. Alokozay! There are three core principles:

First, partnership. Mr. Alokozay and all respected members of the private sector, without your active partnership, the economy cannot stand on its own feet. Therefore, we must clearly understand that economic growth is the collective goal and shared aspiration of the entire nation. Wealth is not theft, and capital is not stolen; capital is generated through intellect, action, and most specifically, transparency. Our mindset must change in this regard.

A country that once forced its economic genius—Abdul Majid Khan Zabuli—into exile must today honor the heroes of its private sector just as it honors the heroes of its security sector. Just as we take immense pride in our Chief of Staff, Mr. Tareen, and all the personnel of our security sector, we want to have clear role models in the economic sector as well. For this reason, the Abdul Majid Khan Zabuli Medal will be minted in the shortest time possible and will be awarded to innovative personalities within the private sector.

The second principle is collaboration. The private sector knows better than anyone else where its profits and losses lie. No one can outmaneuver an Afghan in trade! How so? Look at any corner of the world where trade happens; some said that others reached the skies, but we reached there on the shoulders of a specific individual [laughter] and we set up shop.

We possess a four-thousand-year history of trade; however, a major obstacle to our commerce has been flawed governance. Because of this, absolute cooperation and coordination are essential. The private sector and the state must align around a shared vision to bring about a structural transformation in our society. Today, you witnessed the inauguration of several vital projects, all of which were funded entirely by domestic resources. People were asking where these internal resources came from.

They came from two primary sources: First, we increased Afghanistan's revenues by over ninety percent over the past four years. Second, we saved 18 billion Afghanis through procurement reforms. I congratulate Mr. Yari, who laid its foundation, as well as Mr. Hotaki and our other colleagues. Third, for the first time, 92 percent of Afghanistan's development budget was successfully utilized. Each of these achievements is a catalyst for transformation. Here, there is no distinction between the state, the private sector, and the nation. We all share a single path and a clear objective, which is self-reliance. No country in the world has ever grown truly wealthy purely on foreign aid. Fortunately, Allah (SWT) has blessed me with a good name; let us come together to make this country wealthy.

Strategic Development of Nimruz and Upgrading its Status

My third message is for the noble people of Nimruz. Today, we are witnessing a monumental transformation. However, you are not merely spectators; you are active participants in it. What defines the people of Nimruz? Today, by the grace of Allah (SWT), people from all 34 provinces of Afghanistan live side-by-side in Nimruz like true brothers. They all call themselves residents of Nimruz. Zaranj, which had a population of only 8,000 eighteen years ago, is today home to several hundred thousand people. This proves that Nimruz is a true model of our national unity.

Today, anyone with capital and innovation is coming to Nimruz from various parts of Afghanistan. The plains of Nimruz are returning to the historic era of Rustam, becoming a green landscape and the breadbasket of the region.

Secondly, the private sector had a specific demand. Upon my eyes and head! Nimruz is one of the two provinces regarding which I have already instructed the Ministry of Finance to establish all dry port arrangements, and this will be implemented very soon, covering all customs and dry port infrastructures. Dr. Qayoumi has made the necessary arrangements and is currently traveling. This will be ready very shortly, but my request to the private sector of Nimruz is that you must also come forward and invest! Everything cannot be left to the state. I am responsible for all 34 provinces of Afghanistan. I have invested heavily in Nimruz, and you will see the results. Inshallah, the people of Nimruz will soon be investing in other provinces as well.

Thirdly, one of the grievances and demands of the people of Nimruz is that they are classified as a third-tier province. I have always stated that for us, no province in Afghanistan is third-tier. However, to fulfill your practical demand, Mr. Baig, you are hereby instructed to initiate the administrative arrangements to upgrade Nimruz Province to a second-tier status.

In this context, I want to specifically express my gratitude to the sisters of Nimruz. In the preparatory meetings for the first nationwide National Consultative Women's Jirga, which will be convened in Kabul in a few days, your active participation, eloquent voice, and vital perspectives regarding peace will be a source of immense pride both for the First Lady and for myself. Long live the women of Nimruz!

The time has now come to formulate and implement a comprehensive master development plan for Nimruz. The necessary components are already available; they must simply be integrated into a cohesive framework so that we can bring all these elements together.

Acknowledging Regional Partners and Historic Ties

The fourth point is an expression of gratitude. First, I thank my esteemed counterparts, His Excellency President Rouhani and His Excellency Prime Minister Modi, from the bottom of my heart, as we reached a successful conclusion regarding Chabahar based on a shared regional vision. This paved the way for us to swiftly move from a written agreement to practical execution.

The key point is that the groundwork for this began eighteen years ago, when the governments of Iran and India assisted us with investments over the Silk Bridge. In this regard, I want to specifically acknowledge the sacrifices of the Indian engineers and workers who completed the Delaram-Zaranj highway with ultimate precision and at a great personal sacrifice. We thank the government of India and the respected ambassador of India.

The Economic Pillar: Partnership, Collaboration, and Capital

First, partnership. Mr. Alokozay and all respected members of the private sector, without your active partnership, the economy cannot stand on its own feet. Therefore, we must clearly understand that economic growth is the collective goal and shared aspiration of the entire nation. Wealth is not theft, and capital is not stolen; capital is generated through intellect, action, and most specifically, transparency. Our mindset must change in this regard.

A country that once forced its economic genius—Abdul Majid Khan Zabuli—into exile must today honor the heroes of its private sector just as it honors the heroes of its security sector. Just as we take immense pride in our Chief of Staff, Mr. Tareen, and all the personnel of our security sector, we want to have clear role models in the economic sector as well. For this reason, the Abdul Majid Khan Zabuli Medal will be minted in the shortest time possible and will be awarded to innovative personalities within the private sector.

The second principle is collaboration. The private sector knows better than anyone else where its profits and losses lie. No one can outmaneuver an Afghan in trade! How so? Look at any corner of the world where trade happens; some said that others reached the skies, but we reached there on the shoulders of a specific individual [laughter] and we set up shop.

We possess a four-thousand-year history of trade; however, a major obstacle to our commerce has been flawed governance. Because of this, absolute cooperation and coordination are essential. The private sector and the state must align around a shared vision to bring about a structural transformation in our society. Today, you witnessed the inauguration of several vital projects, all of which were funded entirely by domestic resources. People were asking where these internal resources came from.

They came from two primary sources:

• Revenue Growth: We increased Afghanistan's revenues by over ninety percent over the past four years.

• Procurement Savings: We saved $18\text{ billion}$ Afghanis through strict procurement reforms. I congratulate Mr. Yari, who laid its foundation, as well as Mr. Hotaki and our other colleagues.

• Budget Utilization: For the first time, $92\%$ of Afghanistan's development budget was successfully utilized.

Each of these achievements is a catalyst for transformation. Here, there is no distinction between the state, the private sector, and the nation. We all share a single path and a clear objective, which is self-reliance. No country in the world has ever grown truly wealthy purely on foreign aid. Fortunately, Allah (SWT) has blessed me with a good name; let us come together to make this country wealthy.

Strategic Development of Nimruz and Upgrading its Status

My third message is for the noble people of Nimruz. Today, we are witnessing a monumental transformation. However, you are not merely spectators; you are active participants in it. What defines the people of Nimruz? Today, by the grace of Allah (SWT), people from all 34 provinces of Afghanistan live side-by-side in Nimruz like true brothers. They all call themselves residents of Nimruz. Zaranj, which had a population of only 8,000 eighteen years ago, is today home to several hundred thousand people. This proves that Nimruz is a true model of our national unity.

Today, anyone with capital and innovation is coming to Nimruz from various parts of Afghanistan. The plains of Nimruz are returning to the historic era of Rustam, becoming a green landscape and the breadbasket of the region.

Secondly, the private sector had a specific demand. Upon my eyes and head! Nimruz is one of the two provinces regarding which I have already instructed the Ministry of Finance to establish all dry port arrangements, and this will be implemented very soon, covering everything from customs infrastructure to dry port facilities. Dr. Qayoumi has made the necessary arrangements and is currently traveling. This will be ready very shortly, but my request to the private sector of Nimruz is that you must also come forward and invest! Everything cannot be left to the state. I am responsible for all 34 provinces of Afghanistan. I have invested heavily in Nimruz, and you will see the results. Inshallah, the people of Nimruz will soon be investing in other provinces as well.

Thirdly, one of the grievances and demands of the people of Nimruz is that they are classified as a third-tier province. I have always stated that for us, no province in Afghanistan is third-tier. However, to fulfill your practical demand, Mr. Baig, you are hereby instructed to initiate the administrative arrangements to upgrade Nimruz Province to a second-tier status.

In this context, I want to specifically express my gratitude to the sisters of Nimruz. In the preparatory meetings for the first nationwide National Consultative Women's Jirga, which will be convened in Kabul in a few days, your active participation, eloquent voice, and vital perspectives regarding peace will be a source of immense pride both for the First Lady and for myself. Long live the women of Nimruz!

The time has now come to formulate and implement a comprehensive master development plan for Nimruz. The necessary components are already available; they must simply be integrated into a cohesive framework so that we can bring all these elements together.

Regional Interdependence and Geopolitical Alignment

The fourth point is an expression of gratitude. First, I thank my esteemed counterparts, His Excellency President Rouhani and His Excellency Prime Minister Modi, from the bottom of my heart, as we reached a successful conclusion regarding Chabahar based on a shared regional vision. This paved the way for us to swiftly move from a written agreement to practical execution.

The key point is that the groundwork for this began eighteen years ago, when the governments of Iran and India assisted us with investments over the Silk Bridge. In this regard, I want to specifically acknowledge the sacrifices of the Indian engineers and workers who completed the Delaram-Zaranj highway with ultimate precision and at a great personal sacrifice. We thank the government of India and the respected ambassador of India.

The remarks shared by Respected Mr. Bairami highlight the foundational pillars of international partnership: state-to-state relations, mutual interests, and the capitalization of shared regional opportunities. In this context, cross-border integration is rewriting our economic geography. Seventeen years ago, and even up to four years ago, Afghanistan was treated as an isolated island cut off from the global marketplace. Today, as I have consistently emphasized, we have successfully transformed our strategic geography into an economic asset. Our ultimate resource is our location, and it is rapidly maturing into an unparalleled window of opportunity.

We extend our deep gratitude for the active cooperation of Iran and India. We likewise appreciate our partners in Turkey for their critical alignment along the Lapis Lazuli Route. At the same time, I want to formally acknowledge the cooperation of the United States of America for incorporating our economic realities into their policy frameworks and granting a specific waiver from sanctions for this port. This demonstrates a core understanding of regional connectivity and mutual growth, which we deeply welcome.

Constitutional Mandate: Elections and Institutional Neutrality

Furthermore, within the framework of our latest high-level engagements with the European Union, monumental steps are being taken. The EU is firmly committed to partnering with us to alleviate poverty, foster institutional stability, and invest directly in our massive regional economic and infrastructural projects. I want to express my profound thanks to the Governor of Nimruz and the entire population of the province for organizing and executing this ceremony so flawlessly.

My concluding remarks focus on two non-negotiable national priorities: peace and democratic elections. Holding regular presidential elections is a strict constitutional mandate and the explicit demand of the Afghan people. The presidential election will be executed precisely on schedule, Inshallah.

My direct instruction to all government institutions is to completely abstain from any form of political interference. Our security and defense forces have absolutely no mandate to meddle in political affairs; they must maintain absolute neutrality while safeguarding the security of the electoral process. Similarly, our civil administrations must ensure an entirely level playing field, offering equal access and operational freedom to all participating candidates. As the proverb goes:

"He whose account is clean has nothing to fear from the auditor."

A victory that is not driven directly by the sovereign will and power of the nation is entirely hollow, and Inshallah, we stand united with our people! Elections provide an invaluable forum for our national discourse. They offer the ultimate opportunity for this great nation to determine its strategic direction cleanly, without fear or external censorship.

Today, the historic opportunity to fulfill the interrupted visions of Ghazi King Amanullah Khan and the martyred President Daoud Khan lies directly before your eyes. This nation is fully prepared to declare that it possesses the resolve to complete the unfinished chapter of King Amanullah Khan’s era—realizing a prosperous, stable, and genuinely democratic Afghanistan governed by the absolute rule of law.

Fostering an Inclusive Culture of Peace

Peace is the universal demand of the entire Afghan population. Peace is coming; of this, I give you my absolute reassurance. If I had stood before you two years ago and declared with the same conviction that peace is on the horizon, people would have laughed at our optimism. Yet, you witnessed a successful nationwide ceasefire; our religious scholars came forward and provided clear spiritual guidance. Today, there is absolutely no theological or religious justification left to sustain this conflict. Our respected scholars are seated right here; they issued a unified fatwa. I want to offer a special text of gratitude to the Ulema of Afghanistan because, grounded firmly in the Holy Quran, the Sunnah of the Prophet (PBUH), and the collective work of 1,300 scholars, they declared that peace is the ultimate good and war is pure destruction. Peace is an absolute necessity.

This country is the homeland of Jirgas. Within a Jirga, even the most complex disputes can be resolved. It is for this precise reason that I want every segment of Afghan society to be fully represented in the upcoming Consultative Loya Jirga. The organizational framework of this grand council will be designed to ensure that our younger generations and newly emerging social sectors are given an active voice.

In this sense, the private sector of Afghanistan has a dedicated role in the Consultative Loya Jirga. It is equally vital that the women of Afghanistan are present as delegates from all provinces.

The youth, religious scholars, and elders will naturally be present, but it is also essential that the families of our martyrs, representatives of our wounded warriors, and specifically the retirees and representatives of our heroic security and defense forces come forward to state what this immense sacrifice was for. It is crucial that all the voices and processes of this nation converge; these distinct streams must flow into a single, massive ocean, allowing us to decide our collective direction with absolute unity. Based on that consensus, the state of Afghanistan will execute the exact measures the nation demands. In some areas, the public outcry was to "go and fix this, go and fix that," only to find that disjointed efforts yield no results. Here, we must listen collectively to the entire nation, and through unity and accord, we will build the prosperous Afghanistan that is entirely within our reach.

In closing, I once again congratulate and thank the people of Nimruz, the citizens of Afghanistan, and our international partners—most notably India and Iran. This marks the beginning of our journey, not its conclusion. As the respected Ambassador of India mentioned, our air freight corridors have already triggered a massive $40\%$ increase in our exports. Now that the Chabahar sea route is fully operational, my challenge to our partners in the private sector is to roll up your sleeves and push far past the two-billion-dollar target set by Mr. Ahmadi.

Long live Afghanistan!