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ACCI’s First Deputy to the Board of Directors Mr. Muhammad Younus Muhmand, Mr. Sultan Muhammad Safi Investment Deputy to the Board of Directors, President of the Secretariat Mr. Khan Muhammad Sarfaraz Baz, Mr. Khan Jan Alokozay, and Mr. Ahmad Zia Azimi Shenozada members of the Board of Directors, ACCI’s Acting Chief Executive Officer Mr. Shafiqullah Atayee, and Mr. Mirwais Hotak Administrative and Financial Deputy to the Executive Board met with the Afghan Ambassador to India Mr. Farid Mamonzay and had a discussion about the existing problems in the transit and trade between the two countries.  

In order to promote business between Kabul and Delhi, Mr. Muhmand suggested the following things:
•    The existing problems in Waga Port should be eliminated
•    The existing problems of the dry and fresh fruit exporters to India should be eradicated
•    The legal and monetary issues of the Afghan traders with some of the Indian companies should be addressed by the Afghanistan Center for Commercial Dispute Resolution
•    Investment in Chabahar Port should be convinced
At the end of his words, Mr. Muhmand appreciated all the efforts that Mr. Mamonzay has done to promote trade between the two countries and overcome the existing challenges in the Private Sector.

Mr. Safi asked Mr. Mamonzay to lobby for eradicating visa problems.
Mr. Baz and Alokozay said that Chabahar Port is the best alternative for all the mentioned issues.
Mr. Atayee said, “In order to have problems in Waga Port eliminated, it is important to entrench an Afghan – Indian joint chamber and provide the Chabahar Port with the required facilities.”

Mr. Mamonzay said, “We have talked with the Indian relevant officials and made them provide Afghan traders with 2- and 3-years business visas.”
He, furthermore, asked the government to provide the Private Sector with an appropriate environment for investment especially, when the external forces leave Afghanistan.
He also promised to take considerable measures in eradicated the above-mentioned issues.

Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Investment (ACCI)’s Acting Chief Executive Officer Mr. Shafiqullah Atayee, International Labor Organization (ILO)’s Senior Representative Mr. Muhammad Ramin Behzad, Deputies of the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs Mr. Ghulam Haidar Jailane, and Mr. Muhammad Ajmal Shapoor, and president of the Labor Association Mr. Abdul Maroof Qadari attended the Asia Regional Child Labor Program (ARC)’s conference in Kabul.

Mr. Atayee said, “Poverty, insecurity, lack of education, addiction to narcotics, and the lack of child support packages from the government side are the main reasons of child labor in Afghanistan.”

He, furthermore, said that ACCI has always shared its child protection policies with its members and stakeholders.

Mr. Atayee added that if financial and technical obstacles are removed, the strategy of removing child labor from Afghanistan is more likely to be implemented and the commitment and promises of the government of Afghanistan, International Community, Employers, and Employment Organizations make us more optimistic in regards to removing child labor from Afghanistan.

According to UNICEF and Ministry of Education statistics, 3.7 million children were deprived of school last year and 80% of them became laborers. During the ILO’s conference organized in Argentina in 2018, the government of Afghanistan promised to remove child labor in Afghanistan until 2025.

ACCI's Acting Chief Executive Officer Mr. Shafiqullah Atayee met with India's commercial attaché Mr. Rajesh Badola and discussed the expansion of commercial relations and joint cooperation.

Mr. Atayee talked about the history and working background of the ACCI and said that ACCI is a home for the Private Sector of Afghanistan.

In order to overcome the existing challenges and promote trade between the two counties, Mr. Atayee suggested the following things:
•    In Waga and Chabahar ports, the existing challenges have to be eliminated
•    Long-term visas should be provided to Afghan traders
•    A meeting should be held with Trade Promoting Council India (TPCI)
•    Subsidies should be provided to India’s exports to Afghanistan  

Mr. Rajesh Badola said, “We would like the Afghan Private Sector to carry out all its trade initiatives with the Indian Private Sector based on official treaties. When, therefore, problems arise, they will be solved through diplomatic ways.”

He, furthermore, asked for the statistics of exports and imports so that they could provide facilities accordingly.

He also suggested holding an online meeting with the Trade Promoting Council India (TPCI) in order to eradicate the existing problems in Waga and Chabahar ports.

The director-general of the Islamic Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Agriculture Mr. Abdullah Salih Kamil organized the 37th online meeting of the (ICCIA) which was attended by the acting chief executive officer of the ACCI and presidents, deputies, and secretaries of the 57 chambers of the Islamic countries.

Mr. Atayee said, “establishing economic and regional cooperation between the Islamic counties is important. The ICCIA plays an important role in strengthening the economic cooperation and dispute resolution.”
He, furthermore, asked the participants of the meeting to increase coordination in the expansion of commercial relations, joint investment, and knowledge exchange.

Later on, the participants of the meeting talked about the expansion of commercial relations and existing investment opportunities in their countries. Also, they elected 19 member countries to act as the Board of Directors for the (ICCIA).

ICCIA was established through the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in 1979 and is comprised of the 57 chambers of the Islamic countries.

ACCI became one of the members of the ICCIA in 2008.

Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Investment (ACCI)'s Acting Chief Executive Officer Mr. Shafiqullah Atayee had an online meeting with the high-ranking officials of the International Finance Corporation (IFC) Ms. Desha Panday and Ms. Joshe and discussed; how to improve and advance joint cooperation between ACCI and IFC.

Mr. Atayee thanked and appreciated IFC for its unprecedented assistance and interest in ACCI.

He, furthermore, provided IFC officials with detailed information about ACCI including but not limited to implementing huge projects by the Private Sector, national and international programs, conducting surveys, and public awareness through ACCI’s website and Facebook.

IFC officials insisted that in order to launch gender equality programs, hold gatherings, conduct surveys, and exchange needed information, an MOU is needed to be signed by both the ACCI and IFC.

Mr. Atayee said that ACCI is willing to sign an MOU with IFC and is ready to take considerable steps in improving joint cooperation between the ACCI and IFC.