Economy

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  Economy

  2018-12-21

  Newly inaugurated Lapis Lazuli Route opens doors for Afghan exports to Europe

  Afghanistan will soon begin shipping its products to the European markets, done primarily through its two main ports, Aqina and Turghandi.

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  Economy

  2018-12-06

  Herat authorities work to implement ban on Iranian saffron imports

  Efforts are underway to stem the import of inferior Iranian saffron, which President Ashraf Ghani banned October 7.

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  Economy

  2018-11-26

  More Herat farmers turn to saffron as alternative to poppies

  The Afghan government is providing incentives for Herat farmers to grow saffron, worth up to $8 per gram, instead of illegal or haram crops such as opium poppies.

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  Economy

  2018-11-01

  Afghanistan earns World Bank's praise for improving business climate

  Afghanistan moved up 16 places in the World Bank's rankings for ease of doing business.

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  Economy

  2018-10-24

  Afghan farmers welcome government ban on saffron imports

  Afghan saffron has been repeatedly ranked as the world's best, but low-quality saffron smuggled recently from Iran has either been mixed in with Afghan saffron or marketed as such, tainting the reputation of the product.

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  Economy

  2018-09-04

  Afghan farmers smell sweet success choosing roses over poppy

  Poppy farmers in Nangarhar are switching to the legal, money-making flowers to supply perfumes and essential oil to local and foreign customers.

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  Economy

  2018-08-28

  With Iran's economy in tailspin, Afghans return home in record numbers

  Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said the country's economic problems were the result of internal mismanagement by the government.

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  Economy

  2018-08-24

  Smuggling from Iran decimates Afghanistan's nascent saffron industry

  Iran is trying to violate global trade practices by illegally exporting its saffron via Afghanistan and consequently is undermining Afghan farmers and the reputation of Afghan goods.

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  Economy

  2018-07-30

  Recession, mass unemployment loom in Herat as Iran continues power disruption

  The disruption by Iran of energy supplies to Herat has led to millions of dollars in damage, layoffs and deterioration of living conditions.

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  Economy

  2018-07-18

  Iran halts electricity to Herat Industrial City in breach of contract

  The electricity outage has caused massive financial losses, spoiled raw materials and put hundreds of Afghans out of work, local officials and factory owners say.