Speech by the Deputy PM for Economic Affairs at the Inauguration of a Standard Laboratory Serving the Southwestern Zone in Herat

In the name of Allah, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful.

To the respected Deputy PM for Administrative Affairs, honorable members of the Cabinet, esteemed scholars, respected representatives of the private sector, traders and investors, distinguished guests, and all honorable attendees:

Assalamu Alaikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh!

I pray that Allah Almighty keeps all of you present here in good health and well-being.

I am pleased to participate today, for the first time, in the inauguration ceremony of a standard laboratory for food, medicines, and healthcare products in the Southwestern Zone in Herat Province. This laboratory represents an important step toward ensuring the quality of products, and I congratulate all our dear compatriots on this achievement.

Distinguished attendees,

Our beloved country is taking its initial steps toward economic growth and development. To accelerate these steps and ensure that they are based on proper standards, it is essential that we provide products and services in accordance with national and international standards in order to compete at the regional and international levels, and that we properly adhere to the established standards governing the importation of products.

Technical and standardized product-testing centers in the country ensure the quality and credibility of products and commodities. This enables our citizens to have access to high-quality products in domestic markets while also making our products competitive in international markets.

This product-testing laboratory in Herat Province will assess the quality and credibility of food, medicines, and healthcare products in accordance with international technical standards. It will help prevent the entry of low-quality and substandard goods and, in addition to protecting public health, will further strengthen a trustworthy environment for trade and investment.

From now on, the quality and credibility of food, medicines, and healthcare products imported into Afghanistan from neighboring and other countries will be assessed on the basis of this laboratory. This will provide greater opportunities to prevent the importation of low-quality, counterfeit, and substandard goods.

Previously, traders in the Southwestern Zone were required to travel to Kabul to have their products tested, which consumed considerable time and increased their costs. With the operation of this laboratory, this problem will be resolved, trade will be strengthened, practical facilities will be provided for the private sector, and it will contribute to the training of professional personnel, the creation of new employment opportunities, and the development of scientific and technical capacities.

This laboratory will not be limited to assessing the quality of imported goods; it will also play an important role in verifying the quality of domestic products and promoting exports. Any domestic product that is certified in accordance with the standards of this laboratory will be able to gain access to regional and international markets. Our hope and effort is to compete with other countries in terms of product quality and to ensure that products manufactured in our beloved country earn a credible position in international markets.

Respected traders and investors of the country,

As always, I urge you not to import low-quality, substandard goods that are harmful to public health into the country for personal gain. If anyone imports such goods, they will undoubtedly be rejected, and under no circumstances will the importation of such products be permitted.

We must work together to transform the country's market into a market for standardized and high-quality goods. I call on the officials of domestic manufacturing companies to pay even greater attention to the quality of their products and to properly observe national and international standards, so that together we can duly fulfill our responsibilities toward the nation and the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan.

Finally, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the respected leadership of the Ministry of Public Health, the honorable engineers of the project, the technical staff, and all relevant institutions for their efforts and dedication toward the successful completion of this important project.

May Allah Almighty grant you even greater strength to serve the religion and the homeland.

Wassalamu Alaikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh