Afghan Afghani - AFN

Overview

The Afghan Afghani (AFN) was introduced in 2003 as the new currency for Afghanistan. Two distinct rates were established: the government issue of 1000 and the northern alliance of 2000. Prior to 2003 the currency was the Afghanistan Afghani (AFA). There is no stock market. Money lending as well as foreign exchange is done through money bazaars.

Economy

• Afghanistan relies on foreign aid, trade, and farming from bordering countries.
• The country and international concerns are focusing on improving infrastructure by creating jobs, promoting development of housing, and investing in education.
• International groups contributed over $2 billion to help Afghanistan’s dying economy.
• Afghanistan's agricultural products include wheat, wool, nuts, mutton, opium, lamb skin, and sheep skin.
• Afghanistan exports mainly nuts, fruit, carpets, and cotton.
• Imports include textiles, petroleum products, and capital goods.

History

• The first Afghani (AFA) was introduced in 1925. Before this time period the Afghan Rupee was the official currency.
• From the year 1925 to the year 1928 Afghani treasury notes were introduced.
• In 1975, all Afghanistan banks were nationalized.
• In 1981, the Afghani was pegged to the United States Dollar at 1 USD = 50 Afghanis.
• Afghanistan was taken over by Taliban rulers in 1996. The Taliban central bank declared the Afghanistan Afghani worthless and the bank cancelled the contract they had with Russia for printing their money. The country's currency was devalued against the US dollar to a rate of 1 USD = 43 Afghani.
• In 2002, the new Afghan Afghani currency (AFN) was introduced. In October, 2003 Afghanistan started using AFN as the official currency in local trade.
• In 2005, Afghani coins replaced the 1, 2, and 5 Afghani banknotes.
• Since 2005 the Afghanistan economy has grown at a steady pace.

General Information