U.S. Secretary of Commerce Donald Evans said that he was optimistic on moving forward with U.S. trade and investment in Afghanistan.

"We're committed to helping the Afghan people build a stable and prosperous future", Evans said in a speech at a U.S. Chamber of Commerce Luncheon for Afghanistan's President Hamid Karzai June 14.

Evans said U.S companies are visiting Afghanistan in record numbers and a U.S. business delegation visiting in March was the largest to visit Afghanistan since the end of the war.

"New roads are being built. New schools, clinics, and office buildings are going up across the country", he said, "There are new banking and investment laws that welcome foreign businesses."

Evans also noted that since May 15,000 business licenses had been issued in Afghanistan.

"There are many reasons to be optimistic about Afghanistan's future. We look forward to working with you President Karzai, and all Afghans, as you build a lasting, stable democracy," Evans said.

REMARKS BY
SECRETARY DONALD L. EVANS
U.S. CHAMBER OF COMMERCE LUNCHEON
FOR AFGHANISTAN PRESIDENT HAMID KARZAI
June 14, 2004

(Text As Prepared for Delivery)

Thank you, for that kind introduction. On behalf of President Bush, a warm welcome to all of you. President Karzai, I'm honored to be sharing this stage with you. Let me say again what you have heard many times before: America is in this for the long haul. We stand behind you.

You met last week with President Bush, and the other leaders at the G8 Summit. You saw their commitment. They strongly support reforms that will bring freedom, and economic and social progress in your country, and throughout the region. President Bush's new Broader Middle East and North African Initiative will greatly help to expand freedom and prosperity.

Tomorrow, you meet with President Bush at the White House. I know he's excited about meeting with you again. And we're hopeful that we can move forward on expanding trade and investment in Afghanistan.

For our part at the Commerce Department, we're committed to helping the Afghan people build a stable and prosperous future. My top lieutenant for trade in Afghanistan is here today, Assistant Secretary Bill Lash. Bill? Where are you?

He heads up our Afghanistan Investment and Reconstruction Task Force at the Department of Commerce. Members of the task force were with President Karzai when he was in Chicago last week for a business conference. The task force stands ready to help any of you here today who want to do business in Afghanistan.

In fact, U.S. companies are visiting Afghanistan in record numbers -- more than from any other country. There was a group visiting there in March. It was the largest business delegation to visit since the end of the war. And I hope to see more business delegations going in the weeks ahead. They're smart to get in on the ground floor as Afghanistan rebuilds and reforms its economy.

New roads are being built. New schools, clinics, and office buildings are going up across the country. There are new banking and investment laws that welcome foreign businesses. The first private TV station, Afghan TV, began broadcasting last month. And to date, some 15,000 business licenses have been issued in Afghanistan.

I know, President Karzai , that you appreciate our partnership and support. Your first stop on this trip was Fort Drum, New York. That's home base for our 10th Mountain Division, which had several thousand troops stationed in Afghanistan. And you praised our troops for helping you reclaim your country from terror and oppression.

I'm optimistic about Afghanistan's future. Obviously, there are tough times ahead. You face many challenges. Security remains a problem. Ten-to-twelve thousand new police officers will be on the job to help by the end of the summer.

But I've been to Afghanistan. I know the Afghan people. They're courageous, patient and caring people. When I was in Afghanistan last October, I met many eager Afghan entrepreneurs. I was impressed by all those returning home from the United States and elsewhere, to restart old enterprises and create new ones.

I visited a school in Kabul that is educating Afghanistan's future women leaders. It was an all-girls school, the Zarghona High School. Some had to study under tents provided by UNICEF.

This is a shining symbol of the new Afghanistan. Under Taliban rule, only boys could go to school, and not very many did. Only 1 million were enrolled. But today, some 4.5 million students are enrolled in school. And 30% are girls.

There are many reasons to be optimistic about Afghanistan's future. We look forward to working with you President Karzai, and all Afghans, as you build a lasting, stable democracy. And I personally look forward to working with you to strengthen our trade and commercial relations.

Thank you very much.