The construction of Afghanistan’s second cement factory in Jabal al-Saraj district of Parwan province officially began with an investment of approximately $90 million.
Kabul 24: Senior officials of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan attended the groundbreaking ceremony, highlighting the project’s strategic importance for the country’s industrial development and self-sufficiency goals.According to officials, the new factory will have a daily production capacity of 5,000 tons of cement.
Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs, stated during the ceremony that the completion of this project will enable Afghanistan to achieve self-sufficiency in cement production.
“This project represents a significant step toward industrial self-reliance in Afghanistan,” Baradar said. “Since the return of the Islamic Emirate to power, security has been restored across the country, corruption has been greatly reduced, administrative processes have been simplified, and a safe and reliable environment for investment has been created.”Abdul Salam Hanafi, Deputy Prime Minister for Administrative Affairs, stressed the need for timely and high-quality construction of the factory.
Ministers of Mines and Petroleum, and Energy and Water, also participated in the event and encouraged greater investment across various sectors.
Hedayatullah Badri, Minister of Mines and Petroleum, noted that Afghanistan aims to reach self-sufficiency not only in cement but also in steel products such as rebar and beams. “Currently, we import most raw materials, but we are working to produce these materials domestically,” he said.
Mohammad Yunus Akhunzada, Minister of Energy and Water, highlighted the commitment of businesses and companies to support national self-sufficiency efforts.
The second Jabal al-Saraj cement factory is fully funded by the Islamic Emirate and is expected to be completed within three years. Officials say the project will create approximately 5,000 direct and indirect jobs, providing a significant boost to the local economy in Parwan province.Local residents of Jabal al-Saraj welcomed the launch of the project, viewing it as a positive development for the region.
However, some expressed dissatisfaction that employment opportunities are not always given to deserving local people. They urged authorities to prioritize job opportunities for the youth of the province.
This initiative comes as the Islamic Emirate seeks to strengthen the national economy through large-scale industrial and infrastructure projects, reducing reliance on foreign aid and promoting domestic production.
The successful completion of this cement factory is expected to serve as a model for future investments in Afghanistan’s industrial sector and help expand the local production of construction materials.
