KABUL, Aug 27: Afghanistan’s economy has tripled in the past five years to reach almost $10 billion, the US commerce secretary said on Monday. The economy had grown on average by 15 per cent a year, making it one of the fastest-growing in the world, Carlos Gutierrez told journalists at the end of a two-day visit to the troubled country.

“There is a lot of work to do to enable Afghanistan to reach its economic potential,” he said.

“But I have been very impressed by the progress that has been made in this country over the last several years.”

In one example, only eight per cent of the population had access to health care in 2001, but the figure stood at 80 per cent today, he said.

Gutierrez held talks with President Hamid Karzai and businessmen during his visit, which was focused on trying to increase investment in Afghanistan.

Despite the growth figures, Afghanistan’s economy remains in ruins due to political instability and the government’s struggle to fight the Taliban.—AFP