In brief
On October 30, 2026, Afghan officials opened a 100‑acre cement plant in Kandahar, capable of producing 1,500 tons per day with plans to grow to 5,000 tons, employing about 1,000 workers. The project, costing $113 million, is part of a government push to establish domestic cement production, with another plant underway in Parwan province. Deputy Prime Minister Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar pledged continued support for industrial investment.
Afghanistan opened its first large‑scale cement plant in Kandahar province on Thursday evening, Xinhua reports. The 100‑acre facility, built at a cost of $113 million, can produce 1,500 tons of cement per day and is designed to expand to 5,000 tons in the future.
About 1,000 workers are deployed at the plant, a number that is expected to grow as production increases, the source said. The plant marks a first step toward domestic cement production and a reduction in dependence on imports.
The coalition of government officials present at the ceremony urged further investment in Afghanistan’s industrial sector. Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar pledged government support and called on industrialists and investment companies to invest in the country.
In a related development, the Afghan government began construction of a second cement plant in the Jabal Saraj district of eastern Parwan province in July, as part of a broader effort toward self‑sufficiency in cement manufacturing. Government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said the administration would continue building more factories across the war‑torn country.