The Minister of Commerce and Industry – Dr Mir Mohammad Amin Farhang

Dr Mir Mohammad Amin Farhang took over as Minister of Commerce and Industries in August 2006. Until March of this year, Dr Farhang was the Afghan Minister of Economy.  Born in 1940, he was a professor of economics at Kabul University from 1974 to 1978.  In 1978 he was imprisoned in Pul-e-Charki Jail because of his opposition to the Communist regime, until his release in 1982, when he went to live in Germany. In Germany, Dr Farhang was a professor at Ruhr University. After the fall of Taliban, he was appointed Minister of Reconstruction in December 2001 in President Hamid Karzai’s first government. 

Dr Farhang has written many articles on economic, social and political issues for Afghan and international publications. He speaks Dari, Pashto, German, French and English. Dr Farhang says he looks forward to leading the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.  “I welcome this new challenge in an important ministry, as the Government of Afghanistan strives to improve the business environment and improve the lives of Afghans all around the country,” said Dr Farhang on the day of the announcement.