Value Added Tax (VAT) which is a new tax in Afghanistan and will be implement from the next financial year (21 Dec, 201). In order to Inform taxpayers regarding VAT implementation in Afghanistan, and to take the necessary measures and adopt necessary preparations, World Trade Center Kabul Afghanistan in cooperation with Afghanistan Revenue Department-Kabul (ARD) – Ministry of Finance and Staicha Financial Consultancy hold a (hybrid) training program about (VAT) on June 6, 2021, attended by more than 100 participants from Kabul and other provinces. The program aim is to strengthen professional capacity of taxpayers to be prepared to implement VAT and avoid paying additional taxes and penalties. The training program covered the bellow topics:
– Purpose of VAT Awareness Workshop
– Background
– What’s VAT
– Why VAT
– Exemption and Zero-Rate
– Registration
– Documents of VAT
– Refund
– VAT Claim
– The current tax situation in Afghanistan
– Situation after VAT implementation
– Supply chain
– Taxpayers’ rights and obligations
More similar trainings will be organized soon, follow us.
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Professional Tax Calculation and Tax Law Training Program organized:Date: May 24 – 25 – 26 – 27, 2021
World Trade Center Kabul Afghanistan in partnership with Staicha Financial Consultancy organized a 4 days training program on “Professional Tax Calculation and Afghanistan Tax Law” on 25 – 27 May 2021 to support the private sector and improve the capacity of taxpayers about professional tax calculation, taxpayer rights, tax deductible expenses, tax nondeductible expenses, withholding tax calculation, annual tax return ,tax balance sheet and Value Added Tax (VAT) which is a new tax in Afghanistan and will be implement from financial year 1400 (21 Dec, 201). This program aimed to help private sector and taxpayers to calculate and pay their taxes professionally as per taxation laws to avoid paying extra taxes and tax penalties. Follow up trainings well be organized soon, stay tune
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World Trade Center Kabul Afghanistan hosted the meeting of the Afghanistan اتحادیه شرکت های مشورتی مالی Association of Financial Consultancy Companie (AFCC) on April 29, 2021. In this meeting, the coordination and cooperation of tax and financial consulting firms and provision of professional tax consulting services and solving existing challenges were discussed.

 

 

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World Trade Center Kabul Afghanistan signed Memoranda of Understanding with Shajjan & Associates, A Full Service Law FirmBrightPoint Consulting Servicesand Staicha Financial Consultancy on April 24, 2021. Based on these MoU’s, the #companies will be connected to the global network of World Trade Centers and World Trade Center Kabul Afghanistan will use their capacities to provide better services to its partners and members. Members and partners of the World Trade Center can benefit from the significant discounts on corporate, tax, business, legal and other services of the companies.

Abdul Qadir Bahman Saeeq ShajjanMatiullah RahmatySrajulhaq Morad   

 

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Strengthening Trilateral Cooperation through Public-Private Partnership (PPP): Afghanistan Tajikistan and the U.S. Webinar:
Thursday, April 15, 2021A unique virtual discussion on Central Asian #connectivity through Public-Private-Partnership (PPP) projects involving Afghanistan, Tajikistan, and the U.S. co-organized by World Trade Cent

er Kabul Afghanistan, US-Tajikistan Business Council and US-Kyrgystan Business Council, on Thursday, April 15, 2021 and attended by more than 90 people from #Afghanistan #Tajikistan and the #UnitedStates. The #webinar started by welcome and greeting remarks of Ms. Elena V. Son, Executive Director of USTBC, Mr. Abdul Qadir Bahman, CEO of World Trade Center Kabul Afghanistan and Lars Hickey, Managing Director of Sales and Project Finance, Wabtec Corporation. Mr. Dean Thompson, Acting

 Assistant Secretary, Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs, U.S. Department of State, poke about the #trade and #investment cooperation between Afghanistan and Tajikistan, and shared the US Government’s vision to the participants of the webinar.

Panelists: Sharaf Sheralizoda, 1st Deputy Chairman, State Committee on Investment and State Property Management of the Republic of Tajikistan Talha Hidayat, PPP Technical Director, واحد تسهیل سرمایه گذاری -Afghanistan Investment Facilitation Unit
Matthew Jordan Tank , Director of Sustainable Infrastructure Policy and Project Preparation, EBRD
Jan-Peter Olters, Country Manager, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan, World Bank

Moderator: Christopher J. Weafer, Chief Executive, Macro-Advisory Ltd. The panelists presented their governments’ vision for the #PPP #opportunities in #transportation, #energy, #agriculture, #logistics, #telecommunications, and other #industry sectors that will contribute to the #economic #prosperity, better #connectivity, and #stability in Tajikistan and Afghanistan. Other specialized webinars will be organized for the members of World Trade Center soon.

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Strengthening Banking Cooperation between Afghanistan and Russia:
Monday, April 12, 2021
“Strengthening Banking Cooperation between Afghanistan and Russia” virtual meeting organized and hosted by by the Embassy of Afghanistan in Russia and World Trade Center Kabul Afghanistan in #partnership with Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Russian Federation and Russian export center on April 12, 2021. The meeting was attended by Ambassador Said T. Jawad, Ambassador of Afghanistan to Russia, Abdul Qadir Bahman CEO of World Trade Center Kabul Afghanistan, representatives of Russian Export Center, CCI Russia and EximBnak of Russia and the following commercial banks of Afghanistan:
 Afghanistan International Bank
 Azizi Bank
– Afghan United Bank
– Bank-e Millie Afghan – BMA
 Islamic Bank of Afghanistan
 Ghazanfar Bank

Establishing direct contacts between the banks of Afghanistan and EximBank of Russia, implementing joint business projects and much more-such prospects were discussed by the participants of this virtual meeting.

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A presentation session organized byWorld Trade Center Kabul Afghanistanin#partnershipwithAfghanistan Builders Associationfor Pakistan Fast Cables Corporation on 3 April 2021. Fast CablesPakistan Embassy in KabulPakistan Embassy Kabul
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A productive virtual meeting organized between officials of World Trade Center Kabul Afghanistan, Zabihullah Ziarmal the Chairman, Abdul Qadir Bahman the CEO, Meena Wardak the Event Director, and officials of World Trade Center Kyiv Ukraine Henry Shterenberg the President, Sergiy Nizhynskyi the Board Member and Nadiia Yeroshenko Executive Assistant on 30 March 2021.
The two sides discussed and agreed to exchange of trade missions and organize the businesses conference in #Kyiv and #Kabul in the months of June and September 2021. More detail are coming up

 

 

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The 2nd Board Meeting of World Trade Center Kabul Afghanistan held in a #hybrid format on 29/03/2021.
During the meeting, the following board members were elected as #Chairman and Vice Chairpersons for a two-year term:
– Mr. Zabihullah Ziarmal, CEO of CEFE Group International and First Vice Chairman of the ICC Afghanistan, as Chairman
– Ms. Kamila Sidiqi, Founder of Kaweyan Group & former Deputy Minister of Industry and Commerce of Afghanistan, as Vice Chairperson of the Board
– Mr. Saeeq Shajjan, Founde
r & Managing Partner of Shajjan & Associates, A Full Service Law Firm , as Vice Chairman of the Board
In addition to the above elected people, the meeting was attended by the followings:
– Mr. M Ismail Ghazanfar, Chairman of Afghanistan Chambers Federation, as the guest of honor
– Mr. Abdul Qadir Bahman, Founder CEO & Board Member WTC Kabul
– Mr. Shahir Zahine, Board Member of WTC Kabul and President of Keleid Group and Nye Services LLC
– Dr. Ibrahim Jafari, Board Member of WTC Kabul, President of Afghanite Geo & Mining Engineering Services
– Ms. Emily King, Board Member of WTC Kabul, CEO of Global Venture Consulting LLC, President and Chief Innovation Officer of Analog Gold and Founder of Prospector
– Mr. Ahmad Saidali, Board Member of WTC Kabul and CEO of Bear Bull Global Investment Group
– Mr. Murtaza Edries, Board Member of WTC Kabul and CEO of Pearl Horizon Consulting (PHC)
– Mr. Omaid Hafiza Sharifi, Board Member of WTC Kabul and President & CEO, Art Lord
– Ms. Nilofar Ghazanfar, Board Member of WTC Kabul and Project Coordinator of Ghazanfar Group
– Ms. Meena Wardak, Events and Membership Director of WTC Kabul
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World Trade Centers Association Business Club Member Advisory Council (MAC) meeting held on Wednesday, March 10, 2021 under the following agenda:

I. Welcome and introduction
II. Priorities for 2021:
a. Increase numb er of WTCs on MAC
b. Branding business clubs to all WTCs (through starter guide and webinars, including topics of hybrid model and profitability)
c. Expanding WTC business club global visibility (through open webinars open to all WTCs and their bussines club members
III. Discussion of 3 projects for 2021
IV. Other business
V. Adjournment

This virtual meeting was attended by representatives of about 25 world trade centers from around the world, which discussed the connection of the members of the Club Members of different WTC’s and also the provision of effective services to them.
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World Trade Center Kabul Afghanistan and World Trade Center Kyiv Ukraine signed a memorandum of understanding for strategic cooperation and resource sharing:
Thursday March 11, 2021, Kyiv Ukraine: The agreement outlines areas of cooperation to facilitate bilateral trade and investment, including business matchmaking, trade missions and exchange of business delegations, exhibitions, investment promotion, inter-government cooperation, and sharing of services. The MoU was signed by Mr. @Zabihullah Ziarmal ذبيح الله زيارمل President of WTC Kabul and Mr. Henry Shterenberg President of WTC Kyiv, during an official reception and information session hosted by the WTC Kyiv at the Premier Palace Hotel in Kyiv, Ukraine.
“Our new alliance with WTC Kyiv will serve as a vital avenue to expand trade and investment between our two countries,” said Zabiullah Ziarmal, President, WTC Kabul. “Cooperation with strong partners like WTC Kabul is essential to how we will deliver benefits to businesses in Ukraine. I am pleased that our first cooperation agreement includes an emphasis on mutual objectives built on a foundation of trust, transparency, and anti-corruption,” said Henry Shterenberg, President, WTC Kyiv. This program was organized on the sidelines of the official visit of the Afghanistan delegation to attend the Ukrainian – Afghanistan Joint Intergovernmental Commission on Trade & Economic Cooperation.
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Mr. Abdul Qadir Bahman CEO of World Trade Center Kabul Afghanistan and Mr. Max Sutherland President & CEO of World Trade Center Atlanta USA, #virtually met on March 10, 2021. The two sides discussed the capacity of their organizations and stressed the need for further cooperation to achieve common goals, namely the development of trade and investment relations between Afghanistan and the United States. The President of the WTC Atlanta invited the CEO of the WTC Kabul to participate at the “World Trade Day” virtual conference, will be attended by members of the World Trade Centers from the United States and other countries, and present Afghanistan’s trade and investment opportunities. They also agreed to work together on WTC #Academy to provide training programs for their member companies.
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“Afghanistan Beyond the Headlines” US-Afghanistan Trade and Investment Virtual Conference A Huge Success:
Kabul, Afghanistan, March 9, 2021—Business leaders from Afghanistan and United States met via a “live” virtual conference hosted by the World Trade Center Kabul and World Trade Center Delaware, supported by World Trade Center Washington DC and World Trade Center Harrisburg to hear about the present and future opportunities for trade and investment between both countries and take advantage of a wide range of resources readily available. The event was attended by around 100 people from Afghanistan including diplomats, government representatives, experts from the World Bank, board members of World Trade Centers, heads of chambers and local businesses. The event was started by the opening remarks of the leadership of WTC Kabul, WTC Delaware, WTC Washington DC and WTC Harrisburg and followed by a VIP speaker line-up included, Afghanistan Ambassador in Washington DC, Deputy Head of Mission and other officials of the U.S Embassy Kabul, U.S Senator and U.S House of Representatives from Delaware, former Afghanistan Acting Minister of Mines and Petroleum, Chief Legal Advisor of Afghanistan President, Director General of Afghanistan Investment Facilitation Unit (IFU), CEO of National Procurement Authority (NPA) of Afghanistan, experts from the World Bank, US Commerce Department, and private sector experts.
The speakers said that, the conference gained its name because there is a distinct difference between how Afghanistan is viewed in the news, and the reality that it has made great strides in the past several years to foster progressive climate for international companies to do more business. The reality is that there is “life and business, hope and prosperity and lots of business opportunities in terms of trade and investment. Despite the ups and downs, the country is making great progress in infrastructure, financing and even social issues such as improved education and opportunities for women and minorities. Hundreds of investment projects are currently awaiting for international investors that U.S companies can jointly invest with Afghan companies on those projects.
The speakers encouraged the US businesses to partner with Afghanistan businesses in terms of trade, investment and encouraged Afghan businesses to look at Delaware’s Port as being a viable option for its export’s commodities of Afghanistan, that can be distributed and sold quickly from the easily accessible hub. Business owners from small start-ups to large global companies were given the chance to ask questions of the panels on the virtual conference stage. We are already planning a second program so stay tuned.
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Mr. Abdul Qadir Bahman, CEO of  World Trade Center Kabul Afghanistan, #virtually met with Mr. Wahid Waissi Ambassador of Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan – Canberra Australia on March 

4, 2021. The two sides discussed the effective use of existing opportunities and potentials of trade and investment of the two countries and agreed to hold a joint trade and investment conference in the near future in cooperation with the World Trade Centers based in Australia. And subsequently to exchange trade delegations between the two countries. Program details will be shared with members of the World Trade Center as soon as possible.

 

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Mr. Abdul Qadir Bahman CEO of World Trade Center Kabul Afghanistan virtually met with Mr. Neil Kidd Business Development Director of the World Tr

ade Center Perth Australia on March 4, 2021,

Discussed and agreed to organize a joint “Mining Investment Conference” in cooperation with the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan – Canberra and Mining Chamber.

 

 

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On March 4, 2021, Mr. Zabihollah Ziarmal, the head of the leadership board and respected Abdul Qadir Bahman, the executive head of the World Trade Center of Kabul, Afghanistan during a virtual meeting with Mr. Seyyed Tayyip Javad, the ambassador of Afghanistan They met and had a conversation. Besides discussing the development of Afghanistan-Russia trade and investment relations, the two parties agreed to hold the ′′ Afghanistan-Russia Economic Conference ′′ with the participation of the Moscow World Trade Center and the Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industries at the earliest opportunity Details of the program will be shared with the members of the World Trade Center soon.

 

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The meeting of the Advisory Council (Real Estate) of the World Trade Center was held on Wednesday, February 25, 2021 according to the following agenda:

1. Short introduction of council members
2. Brief information regarding the past and future activities of each center
3. World Trade Centers Priorities for 2021
4. details of the next session
5. other topics
6. Collecting and finishing the parliament
In this virtual meeting, representatives of more than 30 World Trade Centers from different countries of the world were present, Mr. Abdul Qadir Bahman, the Chief Executive Director of the World Trade Center of Kabul Afghanistan, participated in this meeting as a member of the council and regarding past activities. And the future plans of the Institution provided information to the attendees of the parliament and still invited them to set up virtual and physical conferences and meetings in a joint way in the near future with this institution, which was approved by thes
e centers.
The World Trade Center (Real Estate) Advisory Council,
was established in accordance with the following agenda on Wednesday, February 2021, 25:
1. Short introduction of council members
2. Short information about the past and future activities of each center.
3. for 2021 World Trade Center top priorities
4. Details of the upcoming meeting
5. more topics
6. end of meeting
In this virtual meeting, representatives of more than 30 business centers from around the world took part. The executive director of Afghanistan International Trade Center, Abdul Qadir Bahman, participated as a member of this council and discussed past activities and future, and also urged the members of the council to join this administration in the near future. And do physical conferences and meetings, which was accepted by these centers.
World Trade Centers Association

Real Estate Member Advisory Council (MAC) meeting held on Wednesday, February 25 2021 under the following agenda:

I. Welcome & Introductions
II. Updates from Our Network (Each WTC invited to share a 30-second update)
III. WTCA 3 Top Priorities in 2021
IV. Next Meeting Details
V. Other business
VI. Adjournment
This virtual meeting was attended by representatives of more than 30 World Trade Centers from around the world. Mr. Abdul Qadir Bahman, CEO of World Trade Center Kabul Afghanistan
attended in the meeting as a member of the council and provided information about the past activities and future plans of the organization and also invited them to organize joint events with #WTCAFG in the near future, which was welcome by the participants.

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With the rising demand for diversification of the global supply chain, Central Asia is well-positioned to scale up production unique to the world market.

A Virtual Panel Discussion with Central Asian Ambassadors on Central Asia and Diversification of the Global Supply Chain hosted by AUCC in partnership with Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center (World Trade Center Washington DC) and World Trade Center Kabul Afghanistan on February 23, 2021.
The following speakers shared their views with the webinar attendees:
   –    Christopher Wilson, Assistant USTR for South and Central Asia, Office of The US Trade Representative
   –    Zeba Reyazuddin, Deputy Assistant USTR for South and Central Asia, Office of The US Trade Representative
   –    H.E. Afghanistan Ambassador Roya Rahmani
   –    H.E. Uzbek Ambassador Javlon Vakhabov
   –    H.E. Kyrgyz Ambassador Bolot Otunbaev
   –    Deputy Chief of Mission Rauan Tleulin, Embassy of Kazakhstan
The ambassadors discussed about their governments’ efforts to become an integral part of the Global Supply Chain and reviewed present challenges and opportunities of integrating the region into the global value chain and how their respective governments respond to calls for attracting international expertise and clientele.

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Officials of  World Trade Center Kabul Afghanistan and World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur Malaysia virtually met on February 23, 2021.

Abdul Qadir Bahman Founder CEO WTC Kabul, and Dr. Irmohizam Ibrahim Executive Director of the WTC Kuala Lumpur discussed practical steps to be taken by the organization to strengthen trade and investment relations between two countries. The two sides agreed to hold joint trade and investment conference virtually and physically in the near future, followed by an exchange of trade delegations between the two countries. Program details will be shared with members of the World Trade Center as soon as possible. Stay tuned.

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Afghanistan and India Trade & Investment Opportunities Conference will be held soon:Mr. Abdul Qadir Bahman, CEO of World Trade Center (WTC) Kabul had a virtual meeting on Tuesday 25 January 2021 with Ms. Rupa NaikSenior Director of World Trade Center Mumbai. The meeting continued with a discussion on bilateral trade and investment opportunities between Afghanistan and Mumbai and potential areas of collaboration between WTC Kabul, WTC Mumbai and other WTCs based in India. For introducing Trade & Investment Opportunities and connecting the businesses of both countries, they have agreed to organize the Afghanistan – India Trade & Investment Opportunities Conference in the month of February 2021. The program and date of the conference will be shared with the business community soon.

 

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World Trade Center Kabul officials met with Ms. Khair Ull-Nisa, Executive Director of the World Trade Center Noida of India and Board Member of World Trade Centers Association (WTCA) based in New York, on January 27, 2021 in a friendly virtual environment. The two sides discussed greater co-operation between WTC in Afghanistan and the World Trade Centers based in India to provide more facilities for two countries’ businessmen and investors. The meeting continued with a discussion on better ways to expand bilateral trade and investment relations between Afghanistan and India. For introducing Trade & Investment Opportunities and connecting the businesses of both countries, they have agreed to organize many joint business events in 2021.

 

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Partnership between WTC Kabul and WTC Washington DC:World Trade Center Kabul Afghanistan officials met with Mr. Andrew Gelfuso, Director of the World Trade Center Washington DC, and his colleagues on January 27, 2021 in a friendly environment via video conference.The two sides discussed the capacity of their institutions and stressed the need for

further cooperation to achieve common goals, namely the improvement of trade and investment relations between Afghanistan and the United States. It was agreed in this virtual meeting to make effective use of the existing capacities of the World Trade Centers so that the private sector can find the right trade and investment partners by participating in the business conferences of both countries. The WTC Washington DC will play an active and valuable role in connecting traders and investors of two countries at the forthcoming Afghanistan – USA Trade & Investment Opportunities Conference will be held on 9 March 2021.

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MoU’s signed between World Trade Center and Chambers of Afghanistan: Kabul – 13 January 2021 The World Trade Center held its first introductory and networking event with the leadership of the Afghanistan Chambers on January 13, 2021, and hosted a two-hour discussion on cooperation between private sector entities and the trade and investment. On the sidelines of the meeting, MoU’s were signed between the WTC Kabul and the following Chambers:

– International Chamber of Commerce in Afghanistan (ICC Afghanistan)

– Afghanistan Women’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry (AWCCI)

– Afghanistan Chamber of Agriculture and Livestock Products (ACALP)

– Afghanistan Craftsmen and Shopkeepers Chamber (ACSC)

– Pakistan-Afghanistan Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industries (PAJCCI)

Based on these agreements, the World Trade Center and the Chambers will work together on the following areas:

– Connecting the members of the chambers with businessmen and investors of different countries through the network of world trade centers located in 322 cities of the world and paving the way for the participation of Afghan businesses in the various events of these centers.

– Cooperation in holding programs, dialogues, conferences, exhibitions and other national and international conferences inside and outside the country.

– Marketing for Afghanistan’s export products in international markets through the World Trade Centers network.

– Sharing Afghanistan’s trade and investment opportunities with international traders and investors through the World Trade Centers Network and finding foreign trade and investment partners for Afghan traders and investors.

– Coordinating and arranging Afghan trade and investment missions and delegations to different countries and hosting trade and investors missions from different countries in Afghanistan.

– Prepare joint business projects proposals for the development of private sector activities and improving of business enabling environment, and presenting it to the government and international institutions for political, technical and financial support.

– Use of other facilities and services of the World Trade Center Afghanistan to hold various programs.

More MoU’s to be signed between WTC and other chambers, unions and various institutions and companies in Afghanistan to further strengthen private sector activities through cooperation and partnership.

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World Trade Center Kabul officials attended the INTERACTIVE VIDEO CONFERENCE SESSION ON “TRADE & INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES BETWEEN INDIA & AFGHANISTAN POST COVID-19” on Monday, 18th January 2020. The event was organized by Federation of Indian Export Organizations (FIEO) in cooperation with Indian embassy in Kabul and attended by the Afghan and Indian private sector leaders and government representatives from Afghanistan and India. The Afghanistan private sector representatives shared the trade & investment opportunities between Afghanistan and India and invited the vibrant Indian business community to invest in Afghanistan and seize the opportunities. Domestic products and local industry is a priority for Afghanistan, and agriculture, medicine, energy and mining have huge potential for investment and are ready to be explored. WTC Kabul act as regional window of trade & investment for international partners focusing on matchmaking opportunities and it serves as a resource hub for companies around the world seeking trade and investment opportunities in Afghanistan and in the region. Its ready to host nay foreign investors and delegations.

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Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) launched the “FICCI Annual Expo” which is a yearly virtual expo and B2B platform ongoing from 11 December 2020 to 11 December 2021, where leading Indian and international manufacturing companies from multiple sectors are participating. FICCI in cooperation with Indian Embassy in Kabul hosted an online information session for the business community of Afghanistan on 25 January 2021 and presented the demo version of the expo features aimed at facilitating the B2B connection between Indian and Afghan companies. WTC Kabul will coordinate the participation of afghan companies to this virtual platform. The platform also giving the opportunity for Afghan exporters to exhibit their products and services to the expo.