Economy

Etihad Airways has announced it will increase its Kabul–Abu Dhabi flights to a daily service starting 1 May 2026, citing strong passenger demand and rising bookings shortly after the route’s relaunch. The airline initially restarted operations on 20 March 2026, with four weekly flights, but said the rapid growth in demand has prompted a quick expansion.

Uzbekistan and Tatarstan have jointly explored new opportunities for regional trade, focusing on a cargo transit corridor through Termez, bordering with Afghanistan. The two sides held a conference titled ‘Surkhandarya-Tatarstan’ where they discussed expanding economic and transport cooperation including potential trade through duty-free mechanisms.

A four-day “Economic Dawn” exhibition in Kabul brought together around 120 booth (half of them run by women) showcasing products from a range of sectors and drawing strong public interest, especially among female visitors. Organized by UN Women, Afghanistan Economic Initiative and other partner institutions to promote domestic production and entrepreneurship.

The International Monetary Fund and the World Bank have raised concerns about Afghanistan’s economic outlook, highlighting present vulnerabilities despite modest growth.

KABUL POST — In the periodic meeting of the Inter-Ministerial Investment Committee, according to the Deputy for Economic Affairs of the Prime Minister’s Office, the meeting discussed the construction of a commercial market in Kabul’s first district, the building of a modern plant in Kabul for electricity generation through waste incineration and processing.

The WHO has announced the arrival of a 78.5-ton emergency medical shipment from its Dubai hub to Afghanistan. The cargo includes measles treatment kits, pneumonia medications, nutritional supplies for severely malnourished children, surgical equipment, etc.

Local authorities in Panjshir Province have launched a series of development projects worth $4.5 million, aimed at improving infrastructure and public services across the region.

According to a MUDH report, based on the order of the IEA Leader, a total of 4,339 residential plots, each with a 500 square-meter dimension, have been allocated in the migrant settlements of Nangarhar, while 3,291 such plots have been allocated in the migrant settlements of Paktika.

Central Asia is rapidly emerging as a crucial player in the global competition for rare-earth elements which are vital for energy systems, AI development and defense capabilities. Once viewed as a remote region it now holds significant reserves of rare-earths elements and is becoming increasingly important in its global supply chain.

Kyrgyzstan and Russia are moving forward with plans for a new transport route that bypasses Kazakhstan. The proposed Southern Transport Corridor would connect Russia's Astrakhan port, across the Caspian Sea to Turkmenistan’s Turkmen Bashi port and then travel through Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and into Kyrgyzstan.