Construction has begun on two large industrial parks in Kunduz and Baghlan, according to Afghan officials. The Kunduz site is planned on 10,000 jeribs of land, while the Baghlan industrial park covers 1,679 jeribs.
Officials say the zones are intended to provide space for textile, pharmaceutical, food-processing, construction-material, iron and steel industries. Plans also include administrative buildings, commercial areas and basic public services needed by businesses operating inside the parks.
The projects are part of a wider effort to expand formal industrial zones outside the capital. Their economic impact will depend on how quickly roads, electricity and other utilities are provided and how many factories actually begin operating after construction. Authorities have not yet published a single combined figure for the number of firms that will eventually occupy the two sites.