KABUL - (August 14, 2002) The U.S. Trade and Development Agency (TDA), the U.S. Department of Commerce and the Overseas Private Investment Corporation conducted a business development mission to Afghanistan this week to identify opportunities for cooperation with various Afghan ministries and organizations. Daniel D. Stein, TDA Regional Director for Eurasia, participated in the mission, which served as another tangible example of the Bush Administration's commitment to provide assistance to Afghanistan.

TDA has already provided assistance totaling about $200,000 for activities in Afghanistan. As a result of this week's visit, TDA intends to fund orientation visits to the United States for Afghan officials in the power, aviation, and telecommunications, sectors. These visits will allow the officials to meet with U.S. companies that may be able to assist in Afghanistan's reconstruction efforts and discuss cooperation with relevant U.S. Government technical agencies, such as the Federal Aviation Administration, the Federal Communications Commission, and the Department of Energy.

Also discussed during the mission was possible assistance to the Ministry of Mines and Industries in developing and refining geological and geophysical data on oil and gas prospects in Afghanistan. This data is essential to Afghanistan's efforts to encourage foreign investment in this crucial sector of the economy. Other activities under consideration include: (1) assistance to the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism in defining an investment program for airports and air traffic control; (2) assistance to Ariana, the Afghan state airline, in developing a strategic plan, as well as a business plan that would allow the carrier to expand its fleet; and (3) assistance in building an Afghan private sector consulting engineering capability that also would provide U.S. firms with reliable and capable partners for their activities in Afghanistan.

The U.S. Trade and Development Agency promotes American private sector participation in developing and middle-income countries, with special emphasis on economic sectors that represent significant U.S. export potential. By funding various forms of technical assistance, training grants, feasibility studies, orientation visits, and business workshops, TDA helps American businesses compete for infrastructure projects in emerging markets. In addition, the agency promotes capacity building initiatives and supports U.S. government trade, economic policy and development objectives around the world.

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