Afghanistan Investment and Reconstruction Task Force

This site is maintained by the Afghanistan Investment and Reconstruction Task Force of the U.S. Department of Commerce. The Task Force provides information and counseling to companies pursuing business opportunities in Afghanistan. [MORE]

Afghan Entrepreneur receives Peace through Commerce Award

The United States Department of Commerce formally awarded the Peace Through Commerce Award for 2012 to 8 nominees following a formal ceremony in Dubai. Sadat Mansoor Naderi, chairman of SMN Investments, is the first and only Afghan businessman who has received this award. A leader in the insurance industry in Afghanistan, SMN Investments has recently issued a $3.6 billion investment for the Aynak Copper Mine.

Franchising Conference Success in Kabul

The U.S. Department of Commerce, with the support of U.S. Agency for International Development, held the first U.S.-Afghanistan Franchising Trade Conference in Kabul, December 1-5, 2012. The conference was to introduce U.S. franchise companies to Afghan businessmen in order to build potential partnerships. While skeptical of the business climate, companies came to the event with an open mind. “I didn’t have huge expectations going there that we would consummate an agreement, but after being there on the streets and seeing some fairly sophisticated [retail] operators in a very difficult climate, I’ve walked away with the fact that we would do business in Afghanistan,” says Martin Amschler, Vice President of International Development for RadioShack.

Future sector-specific trade conferences will be hosted by the Task Force. For companies interested in participating in future events, please register for email updates here.

The 3rd Edition Trade Finance Guide is now available!

The most up-to-date information on trade, financing and credit can be found in the new 3rd Edition Trade Finance Guide. This reference provides businesses with the know-how to bring products and services to overseas markets.

The Trade Finance Guide was created to help businesses learn the basics of trade finance so that they can turn their export opportunities into actual sales and achieve the ultimate goal of getting paid—especially on time—for those sales. Concise, two-page chapters offer the basics of numerous financing techniques, from open accounts, to forfaiting, to government assisted foreign-buyer financing.

Download your copy here.

Direct Line: An Overview of American Business Opportunities in Afghanistan

The U.S. Department of State has initiated its Direct Line program, which provides a unique opportunity for American businesses, particularly small- and medium-sized enterprises, to engage directly via teleconference with U.S. Ambassadors overseas. The program is open to American companies which are already in the country where the Ambassador serves or which are interested in expanding their businesses into those countries. Calls will vary in topic according to the specific needs for business in a given country.

On October 4, State and the Department of Commerce collaborated to give participants an overview of business and investment opportunities in Afghanistan. Participants asked questions directly to Walt Koenig, Senior Commercial Officer, as well as to Ambassador Arellano, the Coordinating Director for Development and Economic Affairs at the U.S. Embassy in Kabul.

Delhi Summit on Investment in Afghanistan

June 28, 2012, Hotel Taj Palace, New Delhi

The Delhi Regional and International Investor’s Summit on Afghanistan was held on 28 June 2012 at the Hotel Taj Palace, New Delhi.   The Confederation of Indian Industries (CII) in partnership with Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India and Government of Afghanistan organized the conference with the objective of promoting investment opportunities in Afghanistan to regional investors.

The link to the conference is here.

Program Agenda

For additional information, please contact Manish Mohan, manish.mohan@cii.in

Obama Trade Official Leads Business Development Mission to Afghanistan

February 2012

Francisco Sánchez, Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade, arrived in Kabul on February 10, 2012, on the Commerce Department’s first business development mission to Afghanistan. Sánchez led a delegation of representatives from 12 U.S. businesses from the construction, mining, agribusiness and information technology sectors seeking to play a role in the rebuilding of Afghanistan.

“I am pleased to bring these companies on this historic mission to Afghanistan,” said Sánchez. “We have a special opportunity to partner with Afghan government and business leaders to promote mutually beneficial economic growth and investment.”

The following companies were selected for participation in the trade mission : Bell Helicopter Textron – Hurst, Texas; Case New Holland, Inc. – Burr Ridge, Ill.; Dynamic Defense Materials, LLC – Marlton, N.J.; GE Energy – Fairfield, Conn.; National Air Cargo – Orchard Park, N.Y.; Navistar – Lisle, Ill.; PepsiCo – Purchase, N.Y.; Quality Pavement Repair – Alpharetta, Ga.; Red Arrow Logistics – Seattle, Wash.; Serenus Johnson Portables – Bay City, Mich.; Think Renewables, Inc. – Annapolis, Md.; TTi, Inc. – Rochester Hills, Mich. See Photos. Read Complete Press Release.

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