Restructuring the Ministry of Commerce
Dr. Amin Farhang, the new Minister of Commerce and
Industry, authorized the
Ministry leadership to announce the initiation of
Ministry restructuring under the government’s Priority
Reform and Restructuring program. This restructuring
will radically change the way the Ministry is organized
and operates. Departments will be aligned with the
Ministry’s strategic objectives and the structure will
be greatly simplified to promote greater effectiveness.
The Minister also approved the Civil Service Commission
recruitment of General Directors for the new Ministry
organization and
the advertising of positions in the new departments
which do not exist in the old structure.
The Deputy Minister for Administration, Dr. Haider Reza,
authorized classes for all current Ministry staff on the
new mission of the Ministry and on implementing
restructuring. The classes announced the restructuring
and the opportunity for Ministry staff to qualify for
higher-paid positions in the new organization.
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Afghan National Development Strategy (ANDS)
The Ministry of Commerce has recently completed and
submitted its 1385 workplan and is currently completing its
workplan for 1386-89. These workplans will cover the
activities that the Ministry will be undertaking in response
to the commitments made in the Afghanistan Compact and the
strategic goals presented in the Interim ANDS by the
Government of Afghanistan at the London Conference earlier
this year.
The Ministry of Commerce is the lead government agency for
private sector development (PSD) and is a partner in the
government’s international co-operation programme led by the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Ministry intends to embark
on a major stakeholder consultation programme as the
government works towards the preparation of the final Afghan
National Development Strategy by the end of 2007.
Relevant links and downloads:
Afghanistan National Development Strategy
Ministry of Commerce
work plan (English)
Afghanistan Compact (English)
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Private sector policy consultation
The Ministry of Commerce has just completed a major private
sector consultation exercise, asking Afghan construction
companies about their experiences with public procurement
contracting. Over a period of a month, a team from the
Internal Trade department interviewed owners and managers of
more than 150 companies.
The purpose of the survey was to gather evidence as the
Ministry explores policy options to facilitate access to
public procurement contracts for Afghan enterprises. The
Ministry is now preparing a policy options paper, which will
be presented to relevant stakeholders in the near future.
Relevant downloads:
Summary procurement report (English)
Procurement newsletter (English)
