Although the Afghan government began to lay the foundation for some semblance of scheduled air service into the country with a recent deal with the UAE’s GAAC Solutions to furnish ground handling at key airports, the beleaguered administration still needs to address a litany of infrastructure needs as well as safety and security concerns as it plots the way forward.
Whether the Afghan government styles itself the ‘Islamic Emirate’ or ‘Islamic Republic,’ it seems clear the situation in Afghanistan will continue to worsen before it gets better. In an April report, the World Bank set out a litany of problems facing the current government, including a 60 percent decline in public spending due to cessation of international aid; major disruption to health services; loss of access to the overseas assets of the central bank of around $9.2 billion, or 46 percent of 2020 GDP; cessation of international payments; and declines in investment confidence given pervasive uncertainty and fear. “Afghanistan’s economic outlook is stark,” the institution concluded.
More In Airports
