The Afghan government said that a pine nut processing unit is under construction in eastern Paktia province, TOLOnews reported. Around $7 million will be invested in total. The Paktia chamber of commerce and investment said on Friday that the Unit will likely to create around 1000 jobs in the state. 

“The firm will provide the ground for improvement in the export of pine nuts to international markets and there is a need for government’s support to this sector,” Nasir, the head of Paktia chamber of commerce and investment, was quoted as saying by TOLOnews. 

The investment will create jobs and will lead to the prosperity of the province, officials said. 

Paktia and its neighboring provinces, Paktika and Khost, produce around 20,000 tonnes of pine nut in a year, as per the data available on the Afghan agricultural ministry. 

China is the biggest market for Afghan pine nuts. Exporters bear millions in losses due to the lack of storage facilities in the country. With the new processing unit, traders are expected to cut short their significant losses.