[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 47 (Friday, March 11, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 12189-12191]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E5-1024]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration


Business Development Mission Afghanistan

AGENCY: International Trade Administration, Department of Commerce.

ACTION: Notice to business development mission to Afghanistan, April 
24-27, 2005.

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SUMMARY: The International Trade Administration of the U.S. Department 
of Commerce is organizing a business development mission to Afghanistan 
on April 24-27, 2005. The mission will assist U.S. businesses exploring 
trade and investment opportunities in Afghanistan. A senior U.S. 
Department of Commerce official will lead a delegation of approximately 
10 to 15 U.S.-based senior executives of small, medium, and large U.S. 
firms. Companies may represent, but are not limited to, the following 
priority sectors: construction, telecommunications, agribusiness, 
energy, and financial services. The mission will include briefings from 
U.S. Embassy staff and Afghan Government officials, prearranged one-on-
one meetings, and a networking reception. The mission will reaffirm the 
U.S. Government's support towards bilateral relations and seek to 
expand opportunities for U.S. companies in Afghanistan.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Office of Global Trade Programs, Room 
2012, Department of Commerce, Washington, DC 20230; Tel: (202) 482-
4457; Fax: (202) 482-0178.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Business Development Mission, Afghanistan; April 24-27, 2005.

Mission Statement

I. Description of the Mission

    The International Trade Administration of the U.S. Department of 
Commerce is organizing a business development mission to Afghanistan on 
April 24-27, 2005. The mission will assist U.S. businesses exploring 
trade and investment opportunities in Afghanistan. A senior U.S. 
Department of Commerce official will lead a delegation of approximately 
10 to 15 U.S.-based senior executives of small, medium, and large U.S. 
firms. Companies may represent, but are not limited to, the following 
priority sectors: construction, telecommunications, agribusiness, 
energy, and financial services. The mission will include briefings from 
U.S. Embassy staff and

[[Page 12190]]

Afghan Government officials, prearranged one-on-one meetings, and a 
networking reception. The mission will reaffirm the U.S. Government's 
support towards bilateral relations and seek to expand opportunities 
for U.S. companies in Afghanistan.

II. Commercial Setting for the Mission

    Since the Taliban's fall from power in late 2001, Afghanistan is 
undergoing a transformation thanks to the United States and the 
international community. The Afghan Government seeks to revive the 
economy in order to improve the lives of Afghans, create jobs, attract 
foreign investment, and earn desperately needed hard currency. The 
agricultural, energy, housing, light industries and trading sectors 
present significant needs for development.
    Although economic statistics on Afghanistan may not be reliable, 
the International Monetary Fund reports the gross domestic product 
(GDP) is estimated at $4.4 billion, and GDP per capita is about $250 
per year. The estimated GDP growth rate for 2003-2004 was 16%, 
following a growth rate of 20% for 2002-2003. Economic recovery from 
more than twenty war-ravaged years is most visible in agriculture, 
construction and services sectors, driven by the international 
reconstruction effort.
    The Afghan Government is taking many steps to build the mechanisms 
necessary for a viable commercial environment. The Afghan Government 
passed new investment and commercial banking laws to facilitate 
commercial and banking transactions. The Afghan Government created a 
``one-stop shop'' for investors to receive necessary documents and 
other information for establishing a business venture in Afghanistan. 
With assistance from the U.S. Agency for International Development, the 
Ministry of Finance has embarked on an aggressive strategy to simplify 
and improve customs and border procedures to further facilitate trade 
between Afghanistan and the world. The Afghan Government is also 
working with the international community to reform the judicial system.
    The basic business infrastructure, including telecommunications, 
commercial regulations and office support, is slowly improving. Given 
the tenuous security situation throughout the country, there is a 
shortage of insurance options for transporters and investors. The first 
of three industrial parks is scheduled to open in the Spring 2005.
    U.S. Department of Commerce Assistant Secretary William H. Lash, 
III visited Kabul in August 2004. He was encouraged to see the progress 
in reconstruction, the potential for U.S. companies, and the 
entrepreneurial spirit of the Afghans. It is for this reason the 
mission is being planned.

III. Goals for the Mission

    The mission aims to further U.S. commercial policy objectives and 
to advance specific U.S. business interests. The mission will
     Assess the commercial climate as well as export and 
investment opportunities in Afghanistan;
     Advance mission participants' specific business interests 
by introducing them to key Afghan government officials and potential 
business partners;
     Encourage continued progress in economic development in 
Afghanistan; and Enhance the dialogue between government and industry 
on issues affecting the development of bilateral commercial relations.

IV. Scenario for the Mission

    The business development mission will expose participants to high-
level contacts and provide access to the Afghan market. U.S. Embassy 
officials will provide a detailed briefing on the economic, commercial 
and political climate as well as current investment and reconstruction 
opportunities. Meetings will be arranged with appropriate government 
ministries, including the Afghan Investment Support Agency, the 
Ministries of Commerce, and Foreign Affairs, as well as sectoral 
ministries.
    In addition to private sector representatives, U.S. Government 
economic agencies may also participate.
Timetable
    The precise schedule will depend on the availability of local 
government and business officials and the specific goals of the mission 
participants. The tentative trip itinerary will be as follows:

Sunday, April 24, 2005:
    Arrive in Kabul; Overview; Briefing by U.S. Embassy.
Monday, April 25, 2005:
    Briefings by: Afghanistan Investment Support Agency/Ministry of 
Commerce; U.S. Agency for International Development and possible prime 
contractors; Ministry of Finance; Ministry of Foreign Affairs; One-on-
one meetings with sectoral ministries.
Tuesday, April 26, 2005:
    Meetings with Afghan businesses, Afghan-American Chamber of 
Commerce, and Afghanistan International Chamber of Commerce; One-on-one 
meetings with sectoral ministries.
Wednesday, April 27, 2005:
    Briefings by: World Bank representatives; Asian Development Bank 
representatives. Depart Kabul.

V. Criteria for Participant Selection

    The recruitment and selection of private sector participants for 
this mission will be conducted according to the ``Statement of Policy 
Governing Department of Commerce-Overseas Trade Missions'' established 
in March 1997. Approximately 10 to 15 companies will be selected for 
the mission according to the criteria set out below.
    Eligibility: Participating companies must be incorporated or 
otherwise organized in the United States. A company is eligible to 
participate if the products and/or services that it will promote (a) 
are manufactured or produced in the United States; or (b) if 
manufactured or produced outside the United States, are marketed under 
the name of a U.S. firm and have at least 51 percent U.S. content of 
the value of the finished good or service.
    Selection Criteria: Companies will be selected for participation in 
the mission on the basis of
     Consistency of company's goals with the scope and desired 
outcome of the mission;
     Relevance of a company's business and product line to the 
identified growth sectors;
     Rank of the designated company representative;
     Past, present, or prospective relevant international 
business activity;
     Diversity of company size, type, location, demographics, 
and traditional under-representation in business; and
     Timely receipt of the company's signed and completed 
application, participation agreement, and participation fee.
    Recruitment will begin immediately and will be conducted in an open 
and public manner, including publication in the Federal Register, 
posting on the Commerce Department trade missions calendar (http://www.ita.doc.gov/doctm/tmcal.html), the Afghanistan Investment and 
Reconstruction Task Force Web site (http://www.export.gov/afghanistan), 
and press releases to the general and trade media. Promotion of the 
mission will also take place through the involvement of U.S. Export 
Assistance Centers and relevant trade associations.
    An applicant's partisan, political activities (including political 
contribution) are entirely irrelevant to the selection process. The fee 
to

[[Page 12191]]

participate in this mission has not yet been determined, but will be 
approximately USD 1,500. The fees will not cover travel expenses and 
lodging. Recruitment begins immediately and will close on March 31, 
2005, in order to ensure sufficient time to obtain in-country 
appointments for applicants selected to participate in the mission. 
Applications received after that date will be considered only if space 
and scheduling constraints permit. The mission Web site (http://www.export.gov/afghanistan/events) will share information as it becomes 
available.
    Disclaimer: Trade mission participants participate in the trade 
mission and undertake related travel at their own risk and are advised 
to obtain insurance accordingly. Any question regarding insurance 
coverage must be resolved by the participant and its insurer of choice. 
Trade mission participants and their companies, on behalf of themselves 
and any of their respective officers, employees or agents, agree to 
release, indemnify and hold harmless the U.S. Government from liability 
for any illness, injury, loss of life, or damage or loss of property, 
suffered by themselves or their respective officers, employees or 
agents, occasioned by or connected with participation in the trade 
mission. The U.S. Government does not make any representations or 
guarantees as to the safety or security of participants. Companies 
should consult the State Department's travel warning for Afghanistan: 
http://travel.state.gov/travel/afghanistan_warning.html. The U.S. 
Government does not make any representations or guarantees as to the 
success of the trade mission.
    Contact Information: Jana Nelhybel, Afghanistan Investment and 
Reconstruction Task Force, U.S. Department of Commerce, Washington, DC 
20230. Tel: (202) 482-1812. Fax: (202) 482-0980. E-mail: 
[email protected].

    Dated: March 7, 2005.
Peter Hale,
Director, Office of Policy Coordination.
[FR Doc. E5-1024 Filed 3-10-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P