A round table conference devoted to trade and economic relations and establishment of joint Afghan-Russian Chamber of Commerce between
the Russian Federation and the Republic of Afghanistan has ended at the office of the Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Industries (ACCI) in Kabul. The members of the Russian business delegation arrived in Kabul on the 14th of May and the executives of leading Afghan companies took part in the meeting.
The MoU was signed on Monday, May 17, 2010, in Russian Embassy by M. Qurban Haqjo, the Chief Executive Officer of Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Industries (ACCI) and Borres Pasthakhowf, the first Vice-Chairman of Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industries (RCCI) which will enable the two friend countries to further strengthen and boost their business ties.
The meeting opened with greetings from the ACCI Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Mohammad Qurban Haqjo. Head of the Russian delegation, the chairman of the Business Council on Cooperation with Afghanistan, Abubakar Arsamakov, welcomed the participants of the meeting.
The participants of the round table conference said that the Afghan business community had attached great importance to Russian-Afghan economic cooperation. “We welcome the establishment of a Business Council in Russia and believe that this move will help to establish trade and economic cooperation with the Russian Federation and promote it,” Mohammad Qurban Haqjo said. He also said that Afghanistan was ready to create a similar body as joint Chamber of Commerce in ACCI framework.
The vice chairman of the ACCI, Khan Jan Alokzay spoke about traditions of Russian-Afghan economic cooperation and noted the contribution made by the Soviet Union to the development of Afghanistan. “We believe that the reconstruction of social and economic facilities built with the Soviet assistance, including the integrated home-building factory in Kabul, is advantageous,” said Khan Jan Alokzay. According to him, bilateral economic cooperation should not be restricted to the reconstruction of “old Soviet facilities”. “The situation in the country and the region has radically changed in the past 20 years. Consequently, there is a need to promote new trends in Russian-Afghan cooperation,” Alokzay emphasized.
A Russian delegation arrived in Kabul on the 14th of May to discuss new opportunities for promoting economic cooperation between Russia and Afghanistan. It included the executives of leading Russian companies and heads of public organizations, including the Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the executives of banks, and construction, food, metallurgical and engineering companies and the members of the Federation Council and the representatives of mass media outlets.
“I believe that the visit will be a new starting point in promoting trade and economic relations between our countries,” the chairman of the Russian Business Council, Abubakar Arsamakov said. According to Afghan businessmen and experts, the visit to Kabul of the Russian delegation has every reason to become historical since it is proved to be the most representative Russian delegation business community that has visited Afghanistan in the past years.
As Afghanistan and Russian share wide range of business interactions, establishment of Afghan-Russian Chamber of Commerce will help business communities in both countries to eradicate trade obstacles through the joint body and increase investment in Russia and Afghanistan through the chamber of commerce. The Russian delegation is expected to sign several agreements following the discussions with Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Industries (ACCI) in Kabul.
