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On January 27^th, Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Investment (ACCI)’s Chief Executive Officer Mr. Sayed Zaman Hashimi, ACCI’s Policy and Technical Deputy Mr. Shafiqullah Atayee, representatives of the international non-governmental organizations, industrial, commercial and productive companies, governmental agencies, and the Private Sector attended the meeting chaired by the Minister of Industry and Commerce H.E Nisar Ahmad Faizi Ghoryani and created a working group for the improvements in trade.  

H.E Ghoryani said, “CORONA VIRUS has affected the world especially, Afghanistan very negatively and has caused the industrial, commercial, economic, and transit activities to stop.”

He added that this working group has been especially created to expand the Private Sector, point out opportunities and help provide legal solutions for the existing problems and challenges of the Private Sector. 

Mr. Hashimi appreciated H.E Ghoryani’s cooperation in providing the required facilities for the Private Sector, eliminating the existing problems of the Private Sector, and overcoming challenges in transit during the COVID-19 pandemic.

He also asked the Finance, Agriculture, and Industry and Commerce Ministries to help provide the required facilities in transport-transit on regional and international levels.

He, furthermore, insisted that coordination between the Private Sector and Governmental Agencies is crucial for the increase in investment and economic stability.

This working group is supposed to have meetings with the Private Sector, financial agencies, ministries, and governmental and international organizations on a monthly basis and report back to the high economic council of Afghanistan.

Representatives of the commercial, industrial and productive companies said, “The support of the government from our activities results in the increase of the internal products and exports.”

Donor countries said, “We are committed to providing financial and technical assistance to the COVID-19 affected companies, the Private Sector, and the Ministry of Industry and Commerce.”

This working group is supposed to work in the sectors of the rug, saffron, cloth, and precious stones and would provide the required facilities in packaging, exports, and internal products.

ACCI’s Chief Executive Officer Mr. Sayed Zaman Hashimi had an online meeting with the President of the Bengali Chamber of Commerce and Industry Mr. Mahfoozul Haq and had a discussion about commercial relations expansion, investments, enhancement of the exports, and joint-cooperation.

Mr. Hashimi suggested that for the expansion of commercial relations, it is necessary for the Afghan and Bengali Chambers of Commerce to hold a commercial connecting conference, organize exhibitions and establish an air-corridor.

He added that the commercial exchange between the two countries is very less and that commercial MoUs between the Ministries of Commerce and Industry and Commercial Chambers of the two countries is crucial for the expansion of the commercial relations and stabilizing the economy as a whole.

Mr. Mahfoozul Haq said that Bengali traders have a keen interest to get access to Afghan markets and that there is a high-level demand for Afghan products in Bengali markets. He also asked the representatives of the two Chambers to enhance cooperation for the expansion of commercial relations between the two countries.   

In a reply to Mr. Hashimi's suggestion, Mr. Mahfoozul Haq promised to pave the way for a commercial MoU to be signed by the two countries.

ACCI’s Chief Executive Officer Mr. Sayed Zaman Hashimi, ACCI’s Policy and Technical Deputy Mr. Shafiqullah Atayee, representatives of the Ministry of Finance, Industry and Commerce, City Construction Department, Municipality, Judicial, Directorate of Passport, attended the meeting of The Executive Committee for the Private Sector Development (PriSEC) chaired by the President of the Investment Facilities Department of the Presidential House Ms. Foruzan Faqiri and had a discussion about providing more facilities for the investors of the country.  

Mr. Hashimi said, “The government of Afghanistan is supposed to provide more facilities for the investors and traders of the country which leads to the development of the economy of the country.”

He also asked PriSEC’s representatives to accelerate the process of bringing amendments to the Law of Investment and enhance the coordination between governmental organizations and the Private Sector.

Governmental and Private Sectors representatives insisted that amendments to the Law of Investment must provide more facilities for the investors and should create more job opportunities for the unemployed.   

At the end of the meeting, all participants insisted that the achievements of the investment should be preserved, good policies should be adopted to promote investment, and coordination should be enhanced between the relevant organizations.

ACCI’s First Deputy of the board of directors Mr. Haji Muhammad Younus Muhmand, head of the finance of the board of directors Mr. Sherin Agha Sakhi, Ahmad Zia Azimi Shenozada member of the board of directors, ACCI’s Chief Executive Officer Mr. Sayed Zaman Hashimi, and a number of traders and investors met with the Iran Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture head of the Overseas Agriculture Association Mr. Ali Rezvanizada and had a discussion about investment opportunities, economic development, Agriculture and Livestock promotion.

Mr. Muhmand said, “Afghanistan’s climate is very conducive for agriculture and livestock and a joint MoU can result in good commercial relations and more investment opportunities.”  

Mr. Hashimi said that agriculture and livestock play an important role in the development of the country and that there are multiple commercial and investment opportunities in the private sectors of both countries.

Mr. Hashimi added that ACCI supports all investments which result in agriculture and livestock promotion, self-sufficiency, and more job opportunities.

He, furthermore, asked the Iranian Commercial Delegation to provide him with their best plots for the agriculture and livestock promotion and product process so that, ACCI along with the traders and investors of the country can make their plans for.

Head of the Iranian Overseas Agriculture Association Mr. Ali Rezvanizada talked about his meeting with the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation, Iranian Agriculture Association activities, and joint cooperation about agricultural promotion.

He also showed his interest in joint investment in the field of improved breeding of sheep, fodder production, and packaging of crop products.

At the end of the meeting, traders and investors of the country also talked about agriculture, livestock, and gardening promotion and showed their interest in joint investment.

ACCI’s First Deputy of the board of directors Mr. Haji Muhammad Younus Muhmand and ACCI’s Chief Executive Officer Mr. Sayed Zaman Hashimi met with the President of the Paper Importers Association (PIA) and had a discussion about the existing problems and challenges.

PIA’s President said, “The government raises tariff on imported paper which causes numerous problems not only for the importers but also for the residents of the country.”

He, furthermore, asked ACCI’s Chairmanship to share PIA’s problems with the relevant governmental organizations and to help prevent tariff-raising.

Mr. Muhmand said, “ACCI supports the internal products and has always strived to implement a balanced policy which could result in the increase of internal products.”

Mr. Hashimi asked PIA’s President to send their problems to ACCI in a written form so that ACCI can share them with the Ministry of Finance. The Ministry of Finance can then provide legal solutions for their problems.

He assured that ACCI is committed to providing legal solutions for the problems of the traders and investors.