Investment News
Extreme Franchising: Bringing RadioShack to Afghanistan
BloombergBusinessweek
The next time you stroll through downtown Kabul, you might be able to buy batteries from a RadioShack (RSH) outlet, the result of a new effort by the U.S. to shore up Afghanistan’s economy: selling American franchises to Afghan entrepreneurs.
Commercial Attache Speaks About World Bank Private Sector Development Efforts in Afghanistan and their applicability elsewhere
Embassy of Afghanistan
The Embassy of Afghanistan's Commercial Attaché Shakib Noori recently spoke at the World Bank's Financial and Private Sector Development (FPD) Forum, titled "Getting off the Roller Coaster: Stability, Recovery & Growth for All" held at World Bank Group Headquarters November 5-6. Noori participated in the session “Fragile Countries: How Can They Attract Transformative Investment & Create Jobs?” on November 6.
Afghan carpets find further success at North Carolina exhibition
Embassy of Afghanistan
Intricately handcrafted Afghan carpets once again found success among U.S. consumers selling 5,000 square feet of product at the October 2012 High Point Market in High Point, North Carolina.
Afghan carpet producers sell $1.7 million USD at Dubai conference
Embassy of Afghanistan
Afghan carpet producers sold $1,730,970 USD in total product orders at the Afghanistan/USA Carpet Conference held in Dubai, UAE, from September 20-22, 2012. The conference connected twenty of the best Afghan carpet making companies with some of the top American and European rug importers and retailers and established a direct line for future business.
Newest Mining Discovery in Afghanistan: Information from EITI
Revenue Watch
In recent years, headlines from the Afghan mineral sector have competed to outdo each other in scale: from the landmark $3 billion Chinese investment in the Aynak copper concession, to the astounding survey work of the U.S., Afghan and British Geological Services estimating anywhere between $1 trillion and $3 trillion in mineral potential, to the historic $11 billion deal now being finalized with an Indian consortium for the Hajigak iron ore concession. Adding to the bullish outlook on Afghan resources, even supermajors like Exxon Mobil are beginning to take an interest in the country’s oil potential.
From rhetoric to reality: President Karzai's presidential decree for transparency in the country’s nascent extractives sector
Global Witness
A recent decree from Afghanistan’s President Karzai represents a major step forward in turning the government’s commitments to a transparent mining and petroleum sector into a reality. The ball is now in the Ministry of Mines’ court to follow his lead, and to ensure that the Afghan people can see and understand the deals negotiated in their name for country’s most valuable national assets.
Afghan ice cream sweetens business appetite
Reuters
The province of Herat is home to an expanding ice cream company which employs over 200 Afghans and exports its products to the whole of Afghanistan.
Tokyo Summit and Afghanistan’s Business Potential
Institute of South Asian Studies
Delegations from over 60 countries and 20 international organizations gathered in Tokyo on 8 July 2012 and discussed plans for economic development in Afghanistan. The delegates pledged a total of US$ 16 billion in multi-donor aid to fill the Afghan government’s fiscal gap and to develop the Afghan economy over the next four years. The event attracted widespread media coverage – inside and outside Afghanistan – and raised hopes that the international community will stand by Afghanistan in the coming years.
Visa facilitation for Pak businessmen by Afghan Govt hails
Business Recorder
Talking to APP, Tariq Mehmood, President Attock Chamber of Commerce and Industry said visa facilitation for the business community of Pakistan would help boost bilateral trade relations, improve economic growth and benefit people of the two countries.
Afghanistan minerals fully mapped
Updated News
Afghanistan has become the first country whose surface minerals have been mapped from the air. The US Geological Survey released the results of a 'hyperspectral imaging' effort, in which reflections of light shone from an aircraft are analysed...'These maps clearly show the enormous size and variety of Afghanistan’s mineral wealth and position the country to become a world leader in the minerals sector.'
SAIL, Nalco & Hind Copper to jointly bid for Afghan gold, copper mines
The Hindu
Aluminium producer Nalco, in consortium with steel major SAIL and Hindustan Copper, will submit a bid for developing gold and copper deposits in Afghanistan this month, a top company official said on Wednesday. The consortium of Indian PSUs is among the 25 companies/ consortia from the U.S., the U.K., Australia, Canada, the UAE, Turkey and Afghanistan that have been shortlisted by the Afghan Government in April for developing its gold and copper mines. “We are looking at bidding in consortium with SAIL and Hindustan Copper for some copper and gold projects in Afghanistan this month,” National Aluminium Company’s (Nalco) Chairman B. L. Bagra told reporters on the sidelines of a mining conference here.
SpiceJet plans to expand international flight services
The Hindu Business Line
Low cost airline, SpiceJet, said on Wednesday that it would start new flights to six countries, including Afghanistan, China, Hong Kong by end of October this year as part of its plan to expand international operations.
Dragon Oil bidding in Afghanistan
Equities.com
Dubai's Dragon Oil has launched a bid for oil rights in Afghanistan. The Afghan ministry of mines has qualified eight companies, including ExxonMobil and Kuwait Energy, to bid in its second-ever oil auction. Dragon Oil, 51 per cent owned by the Dubai Government's Emirates National Oil Company, sees the northern Afghan blocks as "promising", said Emad Buhulaigah, the firms general manager of petroleum development.
New Great Game Being Played In Afghanistan, Without The US
International Business Times
Afghanistan's neighbors are itching to get involved in-country in a bigger way. Indeed, it looks like a 21st century version of the Great Game is taking shape. Unlike the circumstances leading to the coining of that strategic term -- originally a struggle defining the contours of the British and Russian empires -- the new Great Game centers on China and India (and, to a lesser extent, by Russia and Iran) accessing Central Eurasia's untapped resources. As it turns out, Afghanistan is sitting on some $1 trillion in minerals and oil, according to estimates of the U.S. Geological Survey, at today's prices.
4th Afghan private insurance company received license
Khaama Press
The Ministry of Finance awarded operating license to Insurance Group of Afghanistan, the 4th private insurance company in the country today in a ceremony at Kabul Serena Hotel. Sakeena Banu Ghazanfar, the president of IGA said, “Investors and Afghan businessmen needs to protect their investment and capital against potential risks, IGA has been established to meet their needs.”
Combat vets hope to create Afghan jobs with footwear
The Seattle Times
Two veterans of the war in Afghanistan and a businessman have launched Combat Flip Flops, an Issaquah-based online store that sells flip-flops made in Kabul. "We want to empower these people with the economy; it is not a handout," said Andy Sewrey, president of the company. "It is trying to create an economy in a war zone."
Exxon considers oil/gas exploration in Afghanistan
Chicago Tribune
"Esso Exploration International Ltd's expression of interest in the Afghan-Tajik Basin tender is part of our ongoing evaluation of oil and gas resources around the world," Alan Jeffers, a spokesman for Exxon, said. Afghanistan is seeking bidders for the exploration, development and production of oil and gas in six blocks in the western portion of the Afghan-Tajik Basin of northern Afghanistan, according to its Web site. Bids are due in late October and winning bidders will be announced in late 2012, the government said.
Delhi Investment Summit - Media Release
Ministry of Foreign Affairs--Islamic Republic of Afghanistan
Over 350 business representatives from Afghanistan, India, across the region and beyond will come together with senior policy-makers to map out exciting new investment opportunities for the international business community in Afghanistan. In partnership with the Governments of India and Afghanistan, the Afghan Ministry of Commerce and Industry and the Confederation of Indian Industry will host this unique gathering on June 28 at the HotelTaj Palace in Delhi to promote foreign investment and joint ventures in promising Afghan economic sectors.
India Presses for More Private Investment in Afghanistan
VOA News Asia
India is encouraging private investors to take advantage of growing opportunities in Afghanistan and help stabilize the war-torn country. But security concerns remain deterrents for many businessmen. At a conference in New Delhi Thursday, Indian Foreign Minister S.M. Krishna told foreign and domestic business representatives the withdrawal of international combat forces from Afghanistan by 2014 should not result in a political or security vacuum that will be filled by extremists.
US to spend $297m on Afghan energy projects
Pajhwok Afghan News
The United States would invest $297 million in Afghanistan to establish coal energy producing plants and iron-sulphur separation laboratories, besides developing a gas field, the mines minister said on Monday. Wahidullah Shahrani told a news conference in Kabul that the US Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) and its agency for international development (USAID) would jointly spend $37 million on reconstructing two gas wells and drilling another two in northern Jawzjan province.
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40 countries to attend Investment Summit on Afghanistan: India
The Economic Times
40 countries are set to convene in summit in New Delhi, India. The summit, "is being organized by Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) with the support of the governments of India and Afghanistan and in cooperation with relevant Afghan investment and business organizations". The objective of the event, taking place this Thursday, June 28, 2012, is to attract further foreign investment in Afghanistan.
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Bahrain International Airport Welcomes Inaugural Flight from Afghanistan's Safi Airways
Heralds Improving Afghan Business Climate and Increased Commercial Ties with the Kingdom of Bahrain
Zawya
Safi Airlines founded in 2006 has opened up its fourth international destination. Marking today with its inaugural flight to Bahrain. The Afghan based international airlines continues to grow and expand its operations. Speaking about Safi Airways expansion, Lloyd Carswell, Chief Commercial Officer said, "Afghanistan is a country under reform with the help of multi-nation military and civilian efforts. Safi Airways plays an integral part in this renaissance by providing safe, economic and convenient connections to major global business hubs, such as Bahrain. With this new route, we are providing customers to and from Kabul with even more choice and convenience, when booking flights via Bahrain to and from Europe and the Americas."