IMF: Afghanistan too dependent on opium

North Korea Times Monday 22nd December, 2003

The International Monetary Fund warned Monday that Afghanistan's economy relies too heavily on the opium market.

In its first thorough assessment of the country in 12 years, the IMF reported that while Afghanistan has made strident steps in getting the economy back on its feet, opium production accounted for nearly 50 percent of overall GDP at 3,600 tons in 2003. The agency also warned that the security situation in the country still remained fragile, and could jeopardize the economic and social progress achieved thus far.

The IMF also said that the country will need to resort to continued assistance from the international community for meeting its basic needs in security, health, education, and institutional reforms, particularly as the per capita income remains one of the lowest in the world.

Still, the country saw its GDP, excluding opium production, grow by almost 30 percent over the past 12 months, with the construction sector being particularly robust, especially in urban areas.