Afghanistan to host India trade show

Afghanistan will play host to some 150 Indian companies in the first trade fair to be held in the war-ravaged country in over 10 years.

The 'Made in India Show', scheduled to take place from September 26 to 29, will offer Afghan businessmen opportunities to build partnerships with leading Indian firms in a range of categories.

Organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), the fair will be inaugurated by Afghan President Hamid Karzai and Trade Minister Mustafa Kazimi.

Iqbal Rashidzada, a Dubai-based Afghan businessman who helped co-ordinate the event, remarked: "This represents a step towards normalcy in Afghanistan as far as business is concerned. It is the first trade exhibition in over 12 or 13 years."

Despite the recent attempt on Karzai's life and the explosions in the centre of Kabul, Rashidzada remains optimistic about the future of his country.

"The fact that the Indians are coming goes to show that there is a degree of confidence in the situation in Afghanistan. Some of the companies taking part are the biggest and best known in India," he said, citing Godrej and Tata.

Many businessmen have expressed concern over inadequate security and excessive red tape. Rashidzada dispelled these concerns.

"We have some promising legislation now. Under the old law, a foreign businessman would have to put up a security deposit of $50,000. Under the new law, there will be no difference between an Afghan businessman and a foreigner," he stressed. "Basically, you need to have a clean record, and a bank account number in Afghanistan."

Rashidzada conceded that the latter clause poses "a bit of a technical problem", since there is no banking system in Afghanistan.

"It's a paradox, but people are still doing business in Afghanistan," he said.

Rashidzada's father was one of the top money-exchangers in the country, as well as a distributor of various consumer products. He set up an office in Kabul for his company, Yahya Marketing Ltd, Afghanistan, but retains a base in the Jebel Ali Free Zone.

Rashidzada is planning to set up an India-Afghan business forum, which will meet once every six months to review various business initiatives and foster co-operation.

"The trade show will generate a lot of revenue for Afghanistan. The official airline for the trade show is Ariana, and Ariana is arranging flights between Delhi and Kabul, to fly about 400-plus businessmen. Local transport companies have been hired to provide transport between hotels and the show venue, which is the site of the Loya Jirga."

CII is a non-government, industry-led organisation, playing an active role in India's development process. It has over 4,400 members from the private and public sectors.

Business visitors will be charged an entry fee of 200,000 Afghanis (Dh18). General visitors must pay 40,000 Afghanis (Dh4).