Afghan GDP growing fast but risks inflation rise(A third of it from heroin)

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/OLI454481.htm

TEHRAN, Sept 15 (Reuters) - Afghanistan's economy will maintain its robust growth this year but security, better roads and lower oil prices are needed to keep a lid on inflation, the Governor of the Central Bank of Afghanistan said on Wednesday. snip

CHANGING THE OPIUM ECONOMY

Ahady said Afghan opium, which spawns the lion's share of the West's heroin, accounted for about one third of the economy.

"The solution will have to be comprehensive," he said, adding eradicating the poppyfields of poor farmers would not target the heart of the problem. "Traders are the criminals."

He saw plans to switch poppy farms to lucrative saffron and rose oil as only a partial solution as their high-earning niche would be destroyed by any large-scale production in the country of between 25 and 28 million people.

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[saigon68]

1. Afghanistan's economy will maintain its robust growth this year

Get out the Needles boys--- there's SMACK coming to a town near you !!!!

[NNN0LHI]

2. The junkies have been dropping like flies around here since the invasion

Strong stuff coming in since the Bushies took over the place. Very plentiful too.

Don