November 30, 2010 Dubai hosted the first Afghanistan International Investment

Conference under the co-chairmanship of the Governments of

the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and the United Arab

Emirates

Dubai, U.A.E: The Governments of the United Arab Emirates and the Islamic

Republic of Afghanistan co-hosted the first Afghanistan International

Investment Conference (AIIC) in Dubai, U.A.E on Tuesday, November 30,

2010.

The AIIC took place after a sequence of high-level international meetings on

Afghanistan in 2010, most notably in London, Kabul, Istanbul, and Lisbon.

These prominent international gatherings all shared the same vision of a

prosperous and peaceful future for Afghanistan based on security and

economic development.

The conference commenced with a welcome address from His Excellency, Dr

Anwar Gargash, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs for the United Arab

Emirates. This welcome was followed by a keynote speech from His

Excellency Dr Zalmai Rassoul, Foreign Minister of the Islamic Development of

Afghanistan. Participants enjoyed presentations from H.E. Hazrat Omar

Zakhilwal, Minister of Finance and H.E. Dr. Anwar-ul-Haq Ahady, Minister of

Commerce and Industry for the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan on its

priorities for international investment opportunities, international demand,

best practices, challenges, and why the global economy should invest in

Afghanistan. The Foreign Ministers from Australia and Italy welcomed the

first International Investment Conference and supported greater private

investment in Afghanistan.

AIIC 2010 was attended by around 700 ministers, diplomats, prominent

businessmen, and heads of international organisations from around the

world, including the Secretary General of the OIC, the Secretary General of

the GCC and the Minister of State for External Affairs in India.

HE Dr Anwar Gargash said, ‘It gives me great pleasure to co-host this

conference and I am delighted that it has generated such support from both

local and international businesses. The interest shown and attendance here

today is testament to international commitment to building a prosperous

future for Afghanistan. I hope the initiative will generate further collaboration

and continue to assist economic growth for a peaceful Afghanistan.’

The UAE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs highlighted the Fatma Bint

Mohammed Bin Zayed Initiative. ‘We can all learn a great deal from

initiatives like the Fatma Bint Mohammed Bin Zayed Initiative (FBMI) for

Afghanistan. This amazing endeavor offers women income generating

employment in an industry in which they already possess skills and to date

has provided employment to over 2,700 Afghans while ensuring their

children are well educated and receiving good health care.’

The collaboration between the Governments of Afghanistan and the United

Arab Emirates through the AIIC achieved attracting public and private

investment in the sectors of infrastructure, mining and transportation in

order to generate considerable increases in economic growth, job creation,

and public revenue mobilization in Afghanistan by 2012. These outcomes

correspond to key commitments from the Kabul Conference and are

anchored around the Afghanistan National Development Strategy (ANDS).

In the course of deliberations by working groups, a number of important

projects in the areas of mining, infrastructure and agriculture were

presented. The Afghan Government sought investor support for these

projects from the private sector, public sector and through public-private

partnerships. The Afghan government confirmed its strong commitment to

the safety and security of companies and financial institutions who decided to

invest in Afghanistan.

Afghanistan highlighted the conducive environment that it was establishing to

attract private investment. Conference participants capitalized on the

momentum to support increased private sector development by establishing

'The Afghanistan International Investment Friends' in order to help the

Government of Afghanistan to accelerate efforts to develop sufficient

economic capacities and to enact appropriate policies, laws and regulations

to spur and protect private-sector led investments, economic growth, and

employment generation.

As a result of this important Conference there will be a need for follow-up

through a committee that can track and monitor progress, led by the

Government of Afghanistan through the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of

Commerce, the Afghanistan Investment Support Agency (AISA) and the

Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The Government of Afghanistan highlighted the establishment of a special

Infrastructure Trust Fund, administered by the Asian Development Bank with

full support from other development partners and donors, in order to fund

prioritized infrastructure projects in Transportation, Energy and Mining. This

Trust Fund will support the Regional Resource Corridor Initiative and its

associated projects.

The conference was hosted at the Inter Continental Hotel Dubai Festival City

on November 30, 2010. -Ends

by Sean Kelly on August 11th, 2008

(FranchisePick.Com)  Congratulations to attorney Harold Kestenbaum on the publication of his first book, So You Want to Franchise Your Business.

Harold’s one of the best known and most experienced franchise lawyers in the nation, and his new book is a must-read for budding franchisors. 

The press release tells it all:

November 14, 2010  Childen in Afghanistan are happy to have the attention of a caring adult. These happy and engaging children are easy to develop relationships with. Here You see me with two girls who dress as boys in order to work on the street. For $500 I was able to buy coats for 307 children. Boots, socks and coats are needed here as much as education and shelter. My mission in Afghanistan is to bring business, jobs and humanity to the lives of children. I hope to inspire hundreds of women who have raised their families to come to Afghanistan and participate in brininging up a peacful, educated and happy Afghan population. Franchise business is the best way to quickly eductate and provide jobs in Afghanistan. In partnership with USAID, ISAF, NATO and private Afghan Business people we can change the future!

Franchising World, April 2007

By Jane Moore

It is important to remember that people, not technology, make or break the success of a franchise system.  Multi-unit, single-unit or regional developer franchise models all have to employ sound business practices when managing the growth of the organization. Technology can support sound business practices, it cannot replace them.  The technology available to franchise companies enables them to duplicate their efforts if they choose too.  Duplication with less expense and less pain around the initial learning curve for setting up new locations is the goal of multi-unit establishments.

Jane Moore, business development advisor facilitated a meeting at the offices of Global Trust Construction in Kabul, Afghanistan. CEO Mr. Jan Aqa Jasim hosted Ms. Kessler an her team. IN partnership Global Trust Construction hopes to build many franchises in Afghanistan. Mr. Jasim Jan Aqa will attend the IFA convention in Las Vegas with Franchise Experts from Frantrak. Mr. Jasim has committed to host qualified and interested franchisors to visit Afghanistan to experience for themselves the wonderful business opportunities.