KABUL, July 25 (Xinhua) -- Afghanistan's Ministry of Mines and Petroleum has signed a total of 10 large-scale and 42 small-scale mine extraction contracts with international and domestic companies over the past year, according to Deputy Minister for Finance and Administration Hesamuddin Saberi.

Forty-nine licenses have also been issued to local companies for mineral processing operations, and 378 new mineral zones have been surveyed and identified across the country, local media on Friday quoted Saberi as saying.

A total of 18 contracts were dismissed due to violations of the law, and one contract was suspended during the past year, the official said, adding that over 170,000 individuals are currently employed both directly and indirectly in the mining sector.

Since resuming power in August 2021, the Afghan interim government has been working to build and expand sustainable diplomatic relations with the international community and encourage foreign firms to invest in Afghanistan. ■