- Title: Kabul's biggest currency exchange market reopens
- Date: 4th September 2021
- Summary: KABUL, AFGHANISTAN (SEPTEMBER 4, 2021) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF PEOPLE IN SARAI SHAHZADA MONEY EXCHANGE MARKET MEN STANDING, TALKING, LAUGHING MAN TALKING TO MONEY TRADERS MAN SEATED, COUNTING MONEY MONEY TRADER SEATED, HOLDING BUNDLE OF U.S. DOLLAR BILLS MAN HOLDING BUNDLE OF U.S. DOLLAR BILLS DEPUTY HEAD OF SARAI SHAHZADA MONEY EXCHANGE MARKET, HAJI DAD GUL, TALKING ON PHONE (SOUNDBITE) (Dari) DEPUTY HEAD OF SARAI SHAHZADA MONEY EXCHANGE MARKET, HAJI DAD GUL, SAYING: "Sarai Shahzada (money exchange market) was closed for 20 days, other activities of monetary services and currency exchange did not take place. In accordance with the agreements we had with the officials of the Da Afghanistan Bank (Afghan central bank), the market resumed its activities today, Saturday, and we are at the service of our compatriots." MAN PLACING U.S. DOLLAR BILLS INTO COUNTING MACHINE (SOUNDBITE) (Dari) DEPUTY HEAD OF SARAI SHAHZADA MONEY EXCHANGE MARKET, HAJI DAD GUL, SAYING: "In general, money changers and traders need safety, most of all, we expect the officials to ensure the safety of the lives and assets of money changers and traders in the country, and to try to ensure their protection. This must be provided." STREET SCENE PEDESTRIANS
- Embargoed: 18th September 2021 15:25
- Keywords: Afghanistan Kabul Taliban currency market money exchange reopening
- Location: KABUL, AFGHANISTAN
- City: KABUL, AFGHANISTAN
- Country: Afghanistan
- Topics: Asia / Pacific,Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA001ETAYBEV
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:Kabul residents returned to Afghanistan's largest money exchange market, Shai Shahzada, on Saturday (September 4) after it reopened following a 20-day closure.
The market's deputy head, Haji Dad Gul, said he hoped the Taliban authorities would ensure the safety of money traders.
The impoverished Afghan economy has been thrown into disarray by the country's takeover by the Taliban.
Banks have mainly re-opened this week, but are operating with limited services, including $200 weekly limits on withdrawals and few wire transfers amid liquidity worries and correspondent banks cutting ties, say bankers.
Afghanistan's financial system and economy could be in peril unless the Taliban can access the central bank's roughly $10 billion in assets, which are mostly outside of the country.
Western Union Co and MoneyGram International Inc resumed money-transfer services to Afghanistan on Thursday (September 2), moves in line with a U.S. push to allow personal remittances, to support humanitarian activity after the Taliban's takeover.
Afghanistan's economy is heavily dependent on cash and there are few banks, which makes remittances so important. Sanctions in place against the Taliban could make broader financial institutions reluctant to handle private remittances, despite the U.S. Treasury guidance, financial experts said.
(Production Hedy Beloucif) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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