Afghanistan’s Business Environment: Huge Potential for Investment in an Uncertain Place
The article aims to present Afghanistan’s business environment and elaborates on the huge potential for investment in an uncertain place. A number of literatures has been reviewed from different international and government-related institutions and also quoted government high-level officials to identify these potentials and uncertainties. The review of the studies and research by international institutions suggests that the government of Afghanistan is actively working to prepare a business-friendly environment for domestic and foreign investors. However, political instability, lack of electricity, crime, theft and disorder, access to land and corruption still remains as the major constraints of doing business in Afghanistan. It is a fact that reviving Afghanistan’s business environment in this critical situation of conflict, declining international aid, and ongoing political chaos can be extremely difficult. However, reviving its business environment and utilizing the opportunities cannot wait for the end of the ongoing conflict and current political uncertainty. What Afghanistan needs to do is think creatively to recognize what can be done in the time of conflict and political uncertainty to take advantage from those opportunities. Although the extension of the article analysis requires more evidence to judge, the analysis challenges the general understanding of the business environment and points to important new avenues of research.