Archive

 The leadership of the Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Investment (ACCI), including Mr. Tawakal Ahmadyar, Chairman of ACCI; Mr. Mohammad Younus Mohmand, First Vice Chairman; Mr. Sayed Javid Burhan, Head of International Relations; Mr. Sultan Mohammad Safi, Mr. Khanjan Alokozay, Mr. Sayed Parwiz Sadat Hufyani, and Mr. Ahmad Shekib  Ahmadyar, board members, along with Mr. Sayed Jamil Sadat, Head of the Kabul Chamber of Commerce; Mr. Ahmad Shah Hakimi, First Vice Chairman of the Kabul Chamber; Mr. Mirza Aman Popal, Acting Deputy of Finance and Administration; and Mr. Zalghai Azimi, Head of Azimi Group of Companies and BKB, visited the Iranian product booths. They held discussions with Mr. Syadat, Head of the Iran-Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce; Mr. Nourizadeh, Deputy Economic Governor of Razavi Khorasan Province; and their team on expanding trade relations between the two countries.

Mr. Tawakal Ahmadyar welcomed Mr. Syadat, Mr. Nourizadeh, and their team to Afghanistan, shared information on the country’s current opportunities, and requested Mr. Syadat to encourage Iranian investors to invest in various sectors in Afghanistan, especially in the mining sector.

Mr. Mohammad Younus Mohmand emphasized the importance of expanding economic and trade relations while safeguarding the national interests of both countries. He suggested forming a joint working committee to identify and address the challenges faced by traders from both sides and shared Afghan traders’ issues with Mr. Syadat, requesting solutions.

Mr. Sayed Javid Burhan highlighted Iran as a good friend with shared religious and cultural ties, as well as economic and trade relations with Afghanistan. He emphasized the significant role of the joint chamber in strengthening exchanges between the two nations.

Mr. Syadat assured his cooperation in encouraging Iranian traders to invest in various sectors in Afghanistan and emphasized the importance of expanding the activities of the joint chamber in both countries.

Monday, 16th of Mezan, 1403

In a significant diplomatic development, ACCI’s Vice-Chairman Mr. Muhammad Younus Muhmand along with Mr. Mueen Khawafi Afghan Commercial Attaché in Iran, Mr. Muhammad Sabir Latifi President of the Afghanistan International Exhibition Center, and Dr. Hesamuddin Hamrah senior advisor of the ACCI met with Dr. Musave Iran’s Deputy Minister of Commerce, Industry, and Mining.

Mr. Muhmand addressed Iran as a good and ancient neighbor of Afghanistan and acclaimed its support of the Afghan immigrants living there. He pointed out Iranian investments in Afghanistan as lower than expected, considering the geographical nearness and shared customs and traditions.
He also explained numerous investment opportunities in energy production, mining, agriculture, and health sectors and requested Iranian traders and investors to invest in these sectors.
Providing Mr. Musave with comprehensive information about the significance of the Wakhan land corridor, Mr. Muhmand insisted on creating commercial zones and a joint transport system that can lead to mutual trade promotion. He, furthermore, ensured ACCI’s inclusive cooperation in organizing joint exhibitions and facilitating an Iranian official trip to Afghanistan to monitor and evaluate the Afghan market for investment goals and objectives.

After listening to Mr. Muhmand’s speech and suggestions, Mr. Musave said that the Private Sector plays a pivotal role in countries’ development and ensured that he would encourage Iranian traders and investors to invest in Afghanistan.

December 28, 2023

ACCI’s Chairman Mr. Tawakal Ahmadyar, in the presence of ACCI’s acting CEO Mr. Mirwais Hotak, head of International Relations of the ACCI, and head of the Public Relations, holds an online meeting with the British Chargé d'Affaires to Afghanistan Mr. Robert Chatterton Dickson and discusses the challenges that the Afghan Private Sector is facing and the current economic situation of Afghanistan.

Mr. Ahmadyar said, “Challenges in banking and finance sectors, visas not being issued for Afghan traders by some countries, lack of financial support, lack of the interest of the donors to execute the commercial and economic plans of the Afghan Private Sector, and international community and global banks not completing their incomplete projects are challenges that have weakened the Afghan Private Sector and eliminated employment opportunities.”

He also added that to solve these problems, they have had many meetings with governmental authorities and will continue to do so. Meanwhile, they urge the international community to increase its support of the Afghan Private Sector.

Additionally, elaborating on the existing trade and transit problems with Pakistan, Mr. Ahmadyar said, “Officials in Karachi Port have increased insurance on Afghan commercial commodities, banned 212 imported items, and detained hundreds of containers which leads to the disastrous loss of the Afghan traders and investors.”

“Blemished economic and trade relations with the international community and countries of the region have caused numerous concerns among the Afghan Private Sector, but strengthening them will enable us to normally continue our export and import processes,” said Mirwais Hotak.

Mr. Dickson, besides appreciating the meeting and declaring it as imperative, said that he had had many trips to Afghanistan but in this meeting, many crucial and essential issues were brought up that need to be addressed as soon as possible.

He, furthermore, underscored the inclusion of women in economic and trade initiatives and requested ACCI’s Chairman to facilitate effective communications in this regard.

In conclusion, Mr. Dickson extended a formal invitation to Mr. Tawakal Ahmadyar to participate in the upcoming gathering organized in Doha and represent the Afghan Private Sector.

February 5th, 2024

President of Administrative Affairs Mr. Noorul Haq Anwar, Acting Minister of Economy Mr. Deen Muhammad Hanif, Mr. Muhammad Younus Muhamand Vice-Chairman of the ACCI, Mr. Naseer Ahmad Arab Deputy-Services of the ACCI, Engineer Sayed Jawid Burhan President of the International Relations of the ACCI, Ambassador of Uzbekistan, Deputy-Ambassador of Iran, Mr. Khan Jan Alokozay, Mr. Sayed Parwiz Sadat Hofyani, Mr. Muhammad Dawood Yousufzay, Mr. Jan Aqa Sadiqi, and Mr. Ahmad Shekib Ahmadyar members of the Board of Directors of the ACCI, Mr. Sayed Jameel Sadat President of the KCCI, Mr. Ahmad Shah Hakimi Vice-Chairman of the KCCI, Mr. Homayoon Khwaja Zada Deputy-Commercial of the KCCI, and several well-known traders and investors of the country participated in the welcoming party organized for Cenk Ünal the newly appointed Turkish Ambassador to Afghanistan.

Mr. Muhmand, besides, welcoming, Mr. Ünal addressed Turkey as having joint cultural and religious values with Afghanistan and requested his excellency to
•    Help strengthen mutual trade and investment relations
•    Reduce discrimination in mutual commercial balance
•    And apply preferential tariffs for Afghan commercial commodities
Additionally, he requested the Iranian deputy ambassador to facilitate Afghan transit to Turkey.
He then addressed Uzbekistan as a significant transit and commercial country for Afghanistan, urging its ambassador to facilitate visa issuance for Afghan traders and mutual commercial conferences.
At the end of his speech, Mr. Muhmand said, “Afghanistan not being recognized by the international community, Afghan assets being frozen, and difficulties in obtaining visas pose significant challenges for the Afghan Private Sector.
He kindly requested the international community’s assistance to overcome these issues.

To serve the nation and implement infrastructural projects are from the priorities of the government, and it will strive to have democratic and positive relations with the world's countries. Said Noorulhaq Anwar.

Mr. Deen Muhammad Hanif appreciated ACCI’s efforts in organizing the event and acclaimed Turkey’s humanitarian and life assistance for the Afghan returnees and earthquake victims.

Welcoming the inclusive security situation in Afghanistan and considering it as a golden opportunity for investment, Mr. Cenk Ünal appreciated the Afghan Private Sector’s humanitarian assistance for the victims of the last earthquake in Turkey.
Mr. Ünal also said that Turkey’s embassy is committed to providing Afghan traders with all counseling services and strengthening mutual trade and investment relations.

The Uzbek ambassador informed the participants of the improved Afghan-Uzbek trade and economic relations, citing several meetings, and promised to further enhance trade services.

The Iranian deputy ambassador affirmed that the Islamic Republic of Iran is willing to sign Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) in different sectors like humanitarian assistance, trade and investment affairs, railway, and transit.
He, furthermore, pledged that he would help provide the required facilities for Afghan transit to be done through the land of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

December 21, 2023

Accepting the official invitation of Uzbekistan, Mr. Khairuddin Mael Ahmadi the Deputy Commercial of the ACCI led a commercial delegation including Mr. Zeyauddin Achakzai member of the BoD of the ACCI, Mr. Mirzaman Popal head of the Export and Investment Department of the ACCI, Mr. Engineer Jaleel Harif the Vice-Chairman of the Kabul Chamber of Commerce and Investment (ACCI), Mawlawe Yaqoob Sharafat Chairman of the Logar Chamber of Commerce and Investment (LCCI), and several traders and investors, and participated in Uzbekistan’s Expo 2024 and visited its manufacturing companies.

In a side meeting of this Expo, the Vice-Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Uzbekistan welcomed the Afghan commercial delegation and discussed different avenues of trade expansion, provision of the required facilities, and fostering mutual trade and transit relations.

Mr. Khairuddin Mael Ahmadi representing the Afghan Private Sector said, “We aspire to enhance and promote mutual trade and investment initiatives and would like Uzbek investors to consider investment opportunities within the Afghan Market”.

Representing Afghan traders and transport companies, Mr. Jaleel Harif and Muhammad Nabi Afghan explained the existing trade and transit issues and shared their valuable solutions with the relevant Uzbek authorities.

Consequently, many contracts were signed in the hygienic equipment and food sectors.

April 25th, 2024