ABA Meeting with UNAMA on Strengthening the Private Sector
Date: September 10, 2025
The Afghanistan Banks Association (ABA) continues its efforts to strengthen the growth and development of the country’s banking and financial sector through national and international platforms, aiming to play a constructive role in national economic prosperity and public welfare.
On September 10, 2025, ABA convened a joint consultative meeting with UNAMA and member banks. At the opening, Mr. Najibullah Amiri, Executive Director of ABA, welcomed the participants and highlighted that the main objective of the meeting was to explore cooperation strategies for expanding business access to financial services and promoting financial inclusion.
Key Discussion Points:
1. Access to Financial Resources
o UN agencies in Afghanistan have launched various programs to provide grants and concessional loans to the private sector, with a particular focus on women entrepreneurs.
o The international community emphasized that sustainable economic progress is achievable only through private sector growth and support for domestic production.
o Afghan banks have also introduced programs to advance financial inclusion, Islamic finance, and digital banking, thereby facilitating access to finance for entrepreneurs and generating employment opportunities.
o UNAMA proposed a Musharakah-based model to enable micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) to access financial resources more effectively.
2. Partnership Model (Musharakah)
o The Musharakah model, rooted in Islamic finance, was presented as a viable mechanism to support MSMEs by fostering capital participation, risk-sharing, and inclusive financing.
o This approach aims to empower entrepreneurs while aligning with Shariah-compliant financing principles.
Conclusion
Mr. Matiullah Faeeq, Chairman of ABA, expressed his appreciation for the support of international partners and reaffirmed ABA’s commitment to close cooperation with UNAMA and other stakeholders. He assured that the Afghan banking sector stands ready to actively support the private sector, foster business growth, and promote the Musharakah model as a sustainable financing solution.
