In brief
On 30 October 2026, Afghanistan inaugurated its first large‑scale cement plant in Kandahar province. The 100‑acre facility, costing $113 million, can produce 1,500 tons of cement daily and may expand to 5,000 tons, employing about 1,000 people. The government also launched a second plant in Parwan province and urged further investment in the industrial sector.
In the southern province of Kandahar on 30 October 2026, Afghanistan inaugurated its first large‑scale cement plant in a ceremony attended by local officials and government leaders. The new facility is slated to produce 1,500 tons of cement per day.
According to Sayed Sarwar Amani, head of the Kandahar Chamber of Mines and Industries, the plant sits on 100 acres and cost $113 million. He said the plant would increase its capacity to 5,000 tons per day in the future, and it currently employs about 1,000 people.
Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar addressed the inauguration, pledging continued government support for investment and urging industrialists and investment companies to invest in Afghanistan.
The government also launched construction of another cement plant in Jabal Saraj district of eastern Parwan province in July, as part of efforts to achieve self‑sufficiency in cement production. A government spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, said the administration would continue building more cement factories in the country.
The Kandahar plant is the first of its kind in the region and is an important piece of infrastructure that could reduce the need for costly import of cement. Its opening follows a long period of limited industrial activity in the country, which has been disrupted by ongoing conflict and economic challenges.
The facility’s expansion plans include increasing output without requiring a proportional increase in workforce initially, but Amani noted that job numbers would rise as production grows.
The opening of the plant signals a new direction for Afghan industry and reflects the government’s focus on bringing domestic manufacturing to the forefront. It also serves as a message to foreign investors that Afghanistan is ready to support large‑scale industrial projects.
The development is part of a broader strategy to diversify the economy and reduce reliance on imports, with the Afghan government seeking to attract investment in other sectors as well.
