Regional Business Conference on Afghanistan
November 18, 2006: New Delhi

Afghanistan's business climate has vastly improved after suffering over two decades of war. The country is well on its way to becoming a fully functioning, free market economy with unlimited investment opportunities in various resource rich sectors. With international support, an improving infrastructure and greater access to resources, Afghanistan's government is fully committed to developing a competitive, export-oriented private sector for the future. To this end, new and returning investors not only have the opportunity to support the rebuilding of Afghanistan's economy, but also to benefit from the rapid growth, a pro-business environment, and a strategic geographic location. Success for Afghanistan's economy has far-reaching implications, especially regionally. Afghanistan's location provides the potential for the country to become a vital trade and transit hub in the region as well as a large accessible market with strong expected demand.

To promote regional cooperation Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) with Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry (ASSOCHAM) and Afghanistan Investment Support Agency (AISA) is organizing Regional Business Conference on Afghanistan on November 18, 2006 at New Delhi. The forum is back to back with Regional Economic Cooperation Conference on Afghanistan (RECC) scheduled on November 18-19, 2006.

The Business Forum will be inaugurated by the Hon'ble President of Afghanistan HE Mr Hamid Karzai. Leading businesses entities from countries, namely Afghanistan, Canada China, Finland, France, Germany, India, Iran, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, UAE, USA, UK, Uzbekistan and business entities associated with Multilateral Agencies like United Nations, UNDP, IMF, World Bank, ADB, European Commission, European Council, Aga Khan Development Network, SAARC Secretariat, ECO Secretariat, are cordially invited to this event. Participation from other countries will also be welcomed.

The purpose of this conference is to promote regional cooperation, highlight the importance of Private Sector Development in the progress of Afghanistan and to also invite investment in various business projects on offer in Afghanistan.

Regional cooperation is increasingly seen as an important instrument of further economic development in Afghanistan and the region around. The Regional Economic Conference in Kabul in December 2005 adopted the Kabul Declaration wherein a number of potential areas for cooperation were identified.

The Afghanistan Compact adopted at the London Conference on Afghanistan also identify promotion of regional cooperation as one of the key principles. Among the benchmarks, it is stated that by the end of 2010, Afghanistan and its neighbours will achieve lower transit time through Afghanistan by means of cooperative border management and other trade and transit agreements; increase the amount of power available through power purchase agreements; and, reach agreements that will enable Afghanistan to import skilled labour while enabling Afghans to seek work in the region and send remittances home.

The Business Conference in Delhi will follow up on the themes identified in Kabul - trade facilitation and transport; electricity trade and energy development; and investment, trade and business Potential. It will also take up new themes of agriculture and agro-development, renewable sources of energy and capacity building. More importantly, however, the end goal of this conference will be to introduce specific investment opportunities with significant regional relevance for interested investors to embark on.