Current and past governments of Afghanistan have included a Minister of Commerce in the Afghan cabinet.

[3] The Ministry of Commerce and Industries (Dari: وزارت صنعت و تجارت, Pashto: د صنعت او سوداګری وزارت) creates the enabling environment for sustainable and equitable economic growth and opportunity for all Afghans by promoting private sector development in a socially responsible free market economy.

The Ministry has three basic goals: to promote the establishment and implementation of a legal and regulatory framework necessary for a free market economy; to integrate Afghanistan into the regional and global economy; and to facilitate and promote the development of a dynamic, competitive private sector.

In 2004, when the newly elected President Hamid Karzai formed his first official government, the post of small industries was deleted.

Only in June 2010, when Karzai nominated Dr. Anwar-Ul-Haq Ahady as the new minister of Commerce, the ministry was led again by someone who was confirmed by the National Assembly.