Investment and Business Opportunities in Afghanistan Country Day organized by ICI was Discussed

• 25.04.2019
• News

Istanbul Chamber of Industry (ICI) organized an event of Afghanistan Country Day and Investment Opportunities Seminar with the aim of benefiting the investment and commercial opportunities in the country. Zekria Barakzai, the Istanbul Consul General of Afghanistan participated in the event realized in Odakule with the hosting of Sadık Ayhan Saruhan, the ICI Board of Directors Treasurer Member. Numerous industrialists and business people who are willing to benefit the investment and business opportunities in the country participated in the event.

Sadık Ayhan Saruhan, the ICI Board of Directors Treasurer Member who made a speech in the opening of the event said that when the economical relations between Afghanistan and Türkiye is observed, the trade volume of 2018 is 157 million USD. Stating that this trade volume is highly below to its actual potential, Saruhan expressed that they are ready to take any step to improve the trade relations further. Saruhan expressed that presence of a strong legal substructure towards the improvement of commercial relations is of vital importance. He said that they should prioritize “Prevention Double Taxation”, “Commercial, Economical and Technical Cooperation”, “Mutual Incentive and Protection of Investments” and even “Free Trade Agreement” which will lay the foundation for the economical and commercial relations.

Stating that the investors from Türkiye take place mainly in infrastructure projects and the construction business sector in Afghanistan, Saruhan expressed that he believes that new investments will be launched in especially energy, construction business and industry fields in Afghanistan in the following term. Saying that Afghanistan has come a long way in political, corporate and stability field in the last years, Saruhan touched upon that considering Afghanistan as the 164th member of world’s trade organization is an indicator of success in the improvement in Afghanistan has come so far. Saruhan underlined that Türkiye will maintain its supports in development, security and capacity creation in Afghanistan as long as needed and they have a firm belief that the infrastructure of Afghanistan will transform in to strong, sage and stable investment and commercial country.

Saruhan continued:

Sadık Ayhan Saruhan,
the ICI Board of Directors
Treasurer Member

“Ib addition to the states and governments, business representatives are liable for the the transformation period in Afghanistan to be successful. When the underground resources of Afghanistan is taken into consideration with its young population and generous people, current investment relations are deeply rooted; however, below the average of the current potential. Afghanistan has hosted various routes such as Silk Road throughout the history and therefore, Afghanistan is a vital value logistically. The location of Afghanistan with the significant projects such as Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan- India (TAPİ) natural gas pipeline is gaining strength gradually.

Zekria Barakzai, the Istanbul
General Consulate of Afghanistan

Zekria Barakzai, the Istanbul General Consulate of Afghanistan said that even though there has been a negative perspective about Afghanistan, they will seek for the investment and commercial opportunities between the two countries together. Touching upon the relation dates back to centuries between Türkiye and Afghanistan, Barakzai emphasized that two countries shared the same cultural inheritance. Stating that the Turkmen tribes coming to Anatolia used to pass through Afghanistan, Barakzai reminded that Mevlana Jalaluddin Rumi was born in Afghanistan as well. Stating they have celebrated the 100th anniversary of independence of Afghanistan this year, Barakzai expressed that Türkiye made an active contribution by undertaking role in ISAF in providing the peace in Afghanistan.

Mentioning that there are numerous opportunities for investment, trade and economical cooperation in Afghanistan, Barakzai said that they are very close to the civil peace in Afghanistan and when the peace is brought about, it will be most competitive country in its own region. Barakzai stated that there will be competitiveness in stepping into Afghanistan market and Turkish business people should take their places within it. Pointing out that any incident has not been experienced against Turkish business people in terms of security, Barakzai mentioned that Turkish business people carry out business activities freely in the country. Mentioning that they are ready for contribution to the Turkish business people in any situation as Consulate, Barakzai expressed that the people of two countries will benefit from the cooperation between them.

Sinan Yüzal, the Export Improvement
Expert of Ministry of Trade

Sinan Yüzal, the Export Improvement Expert of Ministry of Trade provided information about commercial relations between Türkiye and Afghanistan. Stating that the GDP of Afghanistan for 2019 is expected to be 20 billion dollars, Yüzal stated that Afghanistan has had an import volume for 5.6 billion dollars and export volume for 1 billion dollars. The told that Afghanistan has carried out export mainly fresh and dried grape, natural resin and gum ammoniac and anthracite while it has carried out import mainly tank, armor-plated cars, wheat flour and petroleums. Yüzak expressed that while Afghanistan has carried out export to Pakistan, India and USA while it has mainly carried out import to Pakistan, USA and India; and Türkiye has ranked as the sixth in this list.

Qayoom Bassam, Commercial
Attache of Afghanistan Embassy

Qayoom Bassam, Commercial Attache of Afghanistan Embassy said that there is a huge commercial potential between Türkiye and Afghanistan in his presentation by which he mentioned about the commercial and investment opportunities in Afghanistan. Expressing those visas, tariffs and other commercial barriers should be removed, Bassam drew attention that Afghanistan has placed itself as a transit country in energy field between South Asia and Central Asia.

Süleyman Ciliv, the Chairperson of Board of Directors of 77 İnşaat ve Taahhüt A.Ş, Turan Koçyiğit, the Chairperson of Executive Board of Vefa Group, Cemil Ceyhan Aral, the Principal Consultant of Board of Directors of Ihlas Investment Afghanistan and Ali Umut Aslan, the Corporate Finance Director of Çalık enerji shared their invesment experiences they have had in Afghanistan in the panel of Turkish Firms’ Experiences in Afghanistan Market chaired by Özge Sarıçay, ICI EU and International Relations Branch Expert. Then, the questions of the listeners were answered by the participants.