By Xinhua
Kabul : Afghanistan hopes to attract at least $1.5 billion foreign investment during the current year, almost doubling the figure in 2007, a top official said here Monday.
Of the foreign companies, the China Metallurgical Group which won the bidding for Aynak Copper Mine in Logar province, 60 km south of the Afghan capital, would top all investors in 2008.
“We are hopeful to attract more than $1 billion, possibly $1.5 billion, in 2008,” Omar Zakhilwal, the head of government-backed Afghanistan Investment Support Agency (AISA) told reporters Monday.
Security concerns was the main reason for the drop in investment in the past years as many businessmen had been kidnapped for ransom, murdered or received threat, Zakhilwal said.
The government is determined to improve the security situation to attract more investment, he said.
The Chinese firm, according to the Afghan official, would invest $3 billion over the next five years in Afghanistan.
Zakhilwal said the government would do its best to encourage private investment in the war-ravaged country.