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ACCI’s Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Shafiqullah Atayee, ACCI’s BDS head of department, and ACCI’s advisers met with the International Labor Organization (ILO)’s officer in charge Ms. Margaret Reade Rounds and Amal Habibi chairman of the National Union of Afghanistan’s Workers and Employees (NUAWE) and expressed ACCI’s interests and commitment in business development and child labor prevention.

Mr. Atayee welcomed the guests from ILO and NUAWE and pointed out the significance of ILO’s technical support and provision of the required facilities in regard to creating a better work environment and preventing child labor in Afghanistan.

Mr. Atayee also indicated that ACCI and ILO has always played a vital role in job creating, providing legal solutions for the problems of the traders and investors, and helping business sector to reach the peak of success.

He, furthermore, insisted on organizing follow-up meetings for a better coordination and cooperation.  
Ms. Margaret said that Afghanistan is experiencing an unfavorable economic situation, but it would not stop them from implementing humanitarian and lifesaving projects in Afghanistan.

She, moreover, said that the UN has extended the Decent Work Country Program (DWCP) project for the next six months and intends to apply a transitional engagement framework that mainly focuses on the following issues:
•    Providing humanitarian and lifesaving assistance to those in need and ensuring businesses do not fall down
•    Saving livelihood and supporting the Private Sector in order to ensure business activities go well
•    Strengthening employers and workers system in order to ensure child labor elimination

Mr. Samadi said, “Afghanistan especially business sector endured a lot of economic loss in the last 4 months. The children began to earn a living for their families through hard work, but fortunately, the International Community still remembers us and continues to work hard to support us, without letting us lose hope.  

At the end, Mr. Atayee and representatives of NUAWE requested ILO’s officer in charge to set up a working relationship between MoLSA, NUAWE, and ACCI in order to work better together and achieve their shared goals and objectives.

As a result of the Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Investment (ACCI)'s struggles, 45-ton pine nuts cargo to China has been transferred through Kam Air airline company.

ACCI’s First Deputy to the Board of Directors Mr. Muhammad Younus Muhmand, Deputy Prime Minister Mr. Abdul Salam Hanafi, Acting Minister of Commerce and Industry Mr. Nooruddin Azizi, Deputy Minister of Information and Culture Mr. Zabihullah Mujahid, Chairman to the International Relations of the Board of Directors Engineer Sayed Jawid Burhan, Chairman to the Finance of the Board of Directors Mr. Sherin Agha Sakhi, Mr. Muhammad Gardezay, Ziauddin Achakzay, and Ahmad Zia Azimi Shenozada ACCI’s members to the Board of Directors, ACCI’s Administrative and Financial Deputy to the CEO Mr. Mirwais Hotak, Chairmanship of the Kam Air airline company, Chairman to the Nemroz Provincial Chamber Mr. Haji Obaidullah Noorzay, Chairman to the Pine nuts Union Mr. Dildar Zadran, a number of traders, and national and international media attended this ceremony in Kabul International Airport.

Mr. Muhmand said that the ACCI has done a lot to facilitate exporting pine nuts through air cargo so far and indicated the role of pine nuts traders and Kam Air airline company as significant in this regard.   
He, furthermore, said that pine nut is one of the crucial commodities of Afghanistan which is worth millions of dollars.
Mr. Muhmand added that this 45-ton pine nuts cargo to China has been transferred only with the financial support of the Pine nut Traders and Kam Air airline company.  

Mr. Abdul Salam Hanafi said, “To start exporting through air corridors once again is a glad tiding to the Private Sector, people of Afghanistan especially, inhabitants of Paktia.”
He also indicated the worth of Afghan pine nuts as equivalent to one billion USD.

Mr. Nooruddin Azizi said, “Ministry of Commerce and Industry is committed to the economic development and trade advancement in Afghanistan and promises to provide the required facilities and opportunities for the very noble cause.”  

Mr. Zabihullah Mujahid said that the Islamic Emirates of Afghanistan is committed to supporting the legitimate activities of the Private Sector and appreciated all the facilitation and coordination of the ACCI in regards to providing legal solutions for the problems of the traders and the Private Sector.

ACCI’s First Deputy to the Board of Directors Mr. Muhammad Younus Muhmand, ACCI’s member to the Board of Directors Mr. Khan Jan Alokozay, Nangarhar Chamber of Commerce and Investment (NCCI)’s a member to the Board of Directors Dr. Mukhles Ahmad, and Afghanistan – Pakistan Joint Chamber’s CEO Mr. Naqibullah Safi attended the meeting organized by OESP and CRSS and delivered their speeches.

Representatives of Pakistan’s Private Sector, representatives of Pakistan’s parliament, Pakistani social activists and journalists, and representatives of the ex-Afghan parliament also participated in this meeting.

Mr. Muhmand and Mr. Khan Jan Alokozay discussed the adverse effects of frozen money on the Afghan economy, existing trade and transit problems between Afghanistan and Pakistan, and the existing problems for the Torkham land route passengers.
Mr. Muhmand and Mr. Khan Jan Alokozay asked the international community to release Afghan frozen money and insisted on trade promotion and investment opportunities.

All participants insisted on the following things:
•    Afghanistan – Pakistan economic and political relations should be improved
•    The required facilities have to be provided in issuing visas
•    Commercial relations have to be strengthened
•    Tariff problems have to be solved
•    The APTTA contract has to be renewed
•    Technical committees have to be established in borders
•    And the required facilities in tourism and medical sectors have to be provided

ACCI’s Chairman Mr. Tawakal Ahmadyar, ACCI’s Investment Deputy to the Board of Directors Mr. Sultan Muhammad Safi, ACCI’s member to the Board of Directors and Petroleum Special Committee’s Chairman Mr. Jan Aqa Sadiqi, and Acting Chief Executive Officer Mr. Shafiqullah Atayee held an online meeting with the Iranian Commercial Attache Mr. Ibrahim Husaini and discussed how to; promote trade between the two countries and solve the existing problems of petroleum importers.

Mr. Ahmadyar said that Afghan petroleum importers are keen to enter into big contracts to purchase petroleum from Iran and asked Mr. Husaini to provide the required coordination and facilities for the very cause.
He, furthermore, said that Afghan petroleum importers are facing a number of issues in their imports from Iran to Afghanistan and hopes for these problems to be eradicated as soon as possible.

Mr. Atayee said, “It is imperative for both countries to strengthen economic relations and promote trade and Afghan petroleum importers are in dire need of being provided with the required facilities by the Iranian government.”

Mr. Husaini said, “Iranian Embassy to Afghanistan has always strived to eliminate the existing challenges and provide traders with the required facilities.”
He, furthermore, said that the Iranian Embassy will try to pave the way for Afghan petroleum importers to enter into big contracts for purchasing petroleum from Iran.

ACCI’s First Deputy to the Board of Directors, Mr. Muhammad Younus Muhmand meets with the Chinese Ambassador to Afghanistan, Mr. Wang You, and discusses how to; expand commercial relations and solve the existing problems of the Afghan traders.

Mr. Muhmand appreciated the consistent cooperation of China in regards to promoting trade between the two countries and asked the Chinese Ambassador to help issue Chinese Visas for Afghan traders.

He, furthermore, said, “Besides importing Afghan pine nuts, the Chinese Embassy has to facilitate importing other products of Afghanistan to China such as dried fruit, herbals, precious and semi-precious stones.”

Mr. Wang You said, “Chinese Embassy stands committed to help issue visas for Afghan traders and facilitate other Afghan products such as dried fig, bitter and sweet almond, raisin, and saffron, to be imported to China.”

He also said that the Chinese government is pleased to distribute improved seeds to Afghan farmers free of cost and buy the crops when harvested.