Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Industries

Afghan-Pak Joint Chamber Opened in Kabul

Tuesday, 26 June 2012 14:04

Afghan-Pak Joint Chamber’s Office in Kabul was officially opened on Tuesday, 25 June, 2012 at ACCI campus. This is considered an important step towards resolving manifold transit and trade problems between the two counties.

The Joint Chamber established in March 2012, has two country offices in Kabul and Karachi cities.

The Kabul Office of Afghan-Pak Joint Chamber will be financed by UK-Embassy in Islamabad and the Center for International Private Enterprises (CIPE) for next three years.

The Kabul Office inauguration was announced at a press conference where Afghan-Pak Joint Chamber’s Board Members; Mr. Faiz Rasul, Pakistan’s Commercial Attaché in Kabul; Mr. Qurban Haqjo, Chief Executive Officer of ACCI; Mr. Mozammil Shinwari, Deputy Minister of Commerce and Industries of Afghanistan and a number of ACCI leadership had participated.

Mr. Haqjo said that the establishment of Afghan-Pak Joint Chamber was part of APTTA agreement and it will serve to “institutionalize the business relations of two countries, so that the private sectors would be able to resolve their problems through direct contacts with the governments of the two countries and encourage the officials to maintain good relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan.”

“In future we will open the joint chamber branches in Khaiber Pakhtunkhwa and Baluchistan of Pakistan and Nangerhar, Kandahar and Khost provinces’ of Afghanistan,” said Mr. Haqjo.

Deputy Minister Mozammil Shinwari welcomed the inauguration of this Joint Chamber office a positive step and added that “both in Pakistan and Afghanistan we were going through lengthy processes {in doing business} and needed to find an easy way to resolve trade problems.”

“During the APTTA negotiations,” said Mr. Shiwari “it was discussed that the private sectors of both countries should develop good business relations, and for this purpose two MoUs were signed with Baluchistan and Khayber Pakhtunkhwa chambers.”

Mr. Faiz Rasul, Pakistan’s Commercial Attaché also welcomed the establishment of Afghan-Pak Joint Chamber Office in Kabul as an important step towards the improvement of business relations between the two countries. “This chamber will work as the first entry point for all business problems of both countries,” said Mr. Rasul, “and {the Joint Chamber officials} will submit those complaints and problems to their respective governments.”

Mr. Khan Jan Alakuzai, Deputy Chairman of ACCI who is also holding the Co-president position at Afghan-Pak Joint Chamber said that the establishment of this chamber was a serious need for the private sectors. According to Mr. Alakuzai, there is no major problem between Afghan and Pakistan private sectors but they share a lot of problems that need to be addressed.

According to Mr. Alakuzai, “Afghanistan imports more than 6 billion USD worth of commodities every year, and Afghan-Pak’s annual bilateral businesses are around 2 billion USD.” He added that more than 45% of Afghanistan exports and Imports are transited thorough Karachi Port.

He stressed that Afghan and Pakistani governments should listen to the private sectors’ concerns and suggestions. Meanwhile he thanked the UK government and CIPE for their financial supports.

Afghan-Pak joint chamber has 11 board members in each country. According to the bylaws, the chamber has a president and two Co-Presidents from each country. The Co-Presidents head operations of their respective Pakistan and Afghanistan branches of the Chamber.

Currently Mr. Muhammad Zubair Motiwala from Pakistan is the president of the joint chamber and the position will go to an Afghan next year.

Afghan Board Member: