President Karzai calls for investment in Afghanistan

Afghanistan's President Hamid Karzai on Tuesday called on national and international investors to invest in the conflict-ridden country. "Any country, any company and anyone is welcomed if invest in Afghanistan to help take this country towards more progress," President Karzai said in conference here to encourage investment in Afghanistan. He also said that China has already began investment in Afghanistan and the government would also welcome Iran, Pakistan and India if do so. Allaying the concerns over the withdrawal of NATO-led forces from Afghanistan in 2014, the Afghan leader pointed out that the security situation in the country is improving by each passing day and "there is no need to worry". However, he accused western media of reporting baseless propaganda, saying certain western media has been reporting that Afghanistan would slide towards instability in 2014 and Afghan president would declare emergency situation. The president lashed at all such reports, adding that Afghanistan will be further stabilized, there will be no emergency situation, the presidential election will be held as per scheduled and the country would have new president in 2014. About strategic cooperation with US, the Afghan president stated that Afghanistan wants to ensure its national interests in any pact, saying Afghanistan wants US to support and equip its national security forces, to build its canals and irrigation systems and to launch development projects. The president later inaugurated an industrial exhibition which put on display the national industrial products. Briefing the audience, Wafiullah Iftikhar, director of Afghan Investment Support Agency (AISA), a government-backed body to encourage investment, said that $553 million had been invested in Afghanistan so far in 2012, showing 20 percent increase against last year. Presently around 3,000 small and medium plants, according to officials, are operating in the country which producing light items such as biscuits, macaroni, tissue papers, medicines, soaps, washing liquid, drinking water, juice, soft drinks, etc.