ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA -(April 17, 2003) Reconstruction of Afghanistan's infrastructure is the focus of an upcoming conference being organized by the U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) and the U.S. Department of Commerce. The event will be held June 8-10, 2003 and will bring Afghan government officials together with U.S. suppliers of engineering, construction and technology services and equipment.

"Afghanistan - Rebuilding a Nation" will highlight more than 35 large-scale projects in the areas of electric power; water and sanitation; transportation, including roads and civil aviation; oil and gas development and pipelines; telecommunications; and construction. The combined value of the projects to be presented at the conference is expected to exceed $4 billion. Afghan officials taking part in the event will present details on the projects and make themselves available for one-on-one meetings with participating U.S. companies.

Representatives of other U.S. agencies involved in trade and international development work, as well as members of the Afghan-American business community, will be present at the conference. Officials from U.S. and international lending institutions, including the Overseas Private Investment Corporation, the World Bank, and the Asian Development Bank, will also be on hand to discuss financing and loan guarantee programs available to U.S. companies for Afghanistan reconstruction and development projects.

"Due to the massive destruction two decades of war has visited upon Afghanistan, there is an urgent need for reconstruction. Many U.S. firms possess technology and expertise that can help Afghan leaders to develop and implement the most effective and efficient solutions to meet their infrastructure needs," noted USTDA Director Thelma J. Askey.

Participants will receive a comprehensive resource guide and CD-ROM outlining the projects featured, including critical economic information, export potential, time lines for implementation, equipment needs and key contacts. "This conference will provide a unique forum to discuss the Afghan government's plans for the implementation of specific projects and the manner in which the U.S. private sector can participate in reconstruction efforts," said Askey.

The conference will be held at the Renaissance Chicago Hotel, 1 West Wacker Drive, Chicago, Illinois. For more information, or to register for the event, visit the conference website at www.trademeetings.com.

The U.S. Trade and Development Agency advances economic development and U.S. commercial interests in developing and middle-income countries. The agency funds various forms of technical assistance, feasibility studies, training, orientation visits and business workshops that support the development of a modern infrastructure and a fair and open trading environment. USTDA's strategic use of foreign assistance funds to support sound investment policy and decision-making in host countries creates an enabling environment for trade, investment and sustainable economic development. In carrying out its mission, USTDA gives emphasis to economic sectors that may benefit from U.S. exports of goods and services.

The U.S. Department of Commerce promotes U.S. businesses, trade and economic policy. The Department also operates the Afghanistan Reconstruction Task Force, which serves as a clearinghouse of information for U.S. companies interested in rebuilding efforts.

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