8th Annual U.S.-Afghanistan Business Matchmaking Conference 2012 AFGHANISTAN IN TRANSITION AN EXPANDED ROLE FOR THE PRIVATE SECTOR
December 2, 3, 4, 2012 Washington, D.C., U.S.A. Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center The JW Marriott Washington, D.C.
Conference Agenda SUNDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 2, 2012 The JW Marriott Washington, D.C. Garden Terrace Ballroom 1331 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, D.C. 20004 Welcoming Reception for Visiting Afghan Business & Gov’t. Delegation Refreshments and hors d’oeuvres Master of Ceremonies AACC Board Chairman, Sulaiman Lutfi, President and CEO, The Honorable Don Ritter, Sc. D. 6:00-8:00 pm
Welcoming Remarks, Acknowledgement of Afghanistan Government and Private Sector Delegations and Recognition of AACC Board Members and Staff Afghan-American Chamber of Commerce (AACC), Chairman, Mr. Sulaiman Lutfi & President & CEO, The Honorable Don Ritter, Sc. D. Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Industries (ACCI), Chairman, Mr. Haji Hossain Fahim First Vice Chairperson, Mr. Khan jan Alokozai Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Mohammad Qurban Haqjo Afghan Business Council-Dubai (ABC-Dubai), Chairman, Mr. Haji Obaidullah Sader Khail Canada-Afghanistan Business Council (CABC), President, Mr. Saber Fermand Vice President Afghanistan Affairs, Eng. Zakaria Khan European Union Chamber of Commerce in Afghanistan (EUCCA), Interim President, Mr. Ramon Mushrief Afghanistan Builders Association (ABA), President, Mr. Naeem Yassin Afghan Business Center in Moscow (ABC-Moscow), President, Mr. Nadir Shakh Mokhammad Board of Directors, Mr. Dad Gul Sardar Vali
Embassy of Afghanistan, Washington, D.C.
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MONDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2012 Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center Atrium Ballroom 1300 Pennsylvania Avenue N.W., Washington, D.C. 20004 8:00-9:00 am
Registration, Networking & Informational Fair Exhibit Viewing Continental Breakfast
9:00 am-5:00 pm
Opening of Trade & Informational Fair
9:00-9:15 am
Introductions Afghan-American Chamber of Commerce (AACC), Chairman, Mr. Sulaiman Lutfi & President & CEO, The Honorable Don Ritter, Sc. D. Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Industries (ACCI), Chairman, Mr. Haji Hossain Fahim First Vice Chairperson, Mr. Khan jan Alokozai CEO, Mr. Mohammad Qurban Haqjo Afghan Business Council-Dubai (ABC-Dubai), Chairman, Mr. Haji Obaidullah Sader Khail Canada-Afghanistan Business Council (CABC), President, Mr. Saber Fermand Vice President Afghanistan Affairs, Eng. Zakaria Khan European Union Chamber of Commerce in Afghanistan (EUCCA), Interim President, Mr. Ramon Mushrief Afghanistan Builders Association (ABA), President, Mr. Naeem Yassin Afghan Business Center in Moscow (ABC-Moscow), President, Mr. Nadir Shakh Mokhammad Board of Directors, Mr. Dad Gul Sardar Vali
9:15-9:20 am
Goals of the Conference AACC President & CEO, Hon. Don Ritter, Sc. D.
9:20-10:10 am
Panel 1: Opportunities in Agriculture and Food Processing Moderator: Mr. John W. Mellor, Ph. D., President, John Mellor Associates, Professor Emeritus, Cornell University - Potential for the Agricultural Economy in Afghanistan Mr. David E. Bailey, Private Sector Engagement Adviser , Office of Afghanistan and Pakistan Affairs, USAID - USAID Role in Agriculture in Afghanistan in an Era of Transition Mr. Eugene Philhower, Team Leader Afghanistan, Haiti, Iraq, Pakistan, USDA/FAS The Range of USDA Programs in Afghanistan Mr. Ahmad Farid Nabi, Executive Director, CARD-F, Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock (MAIL), Government of Islamic Republic of Afghanistan Mr. John Haydu , Ph.D., Senior Technical Advisor, Agriculture Development, International Relief & Development (IRD) - Long-term Development Through Revitalization of Afghan Agriculture
10:10-10:25 am
Coffee/Tea Networking Break
10:25-10:45 am
Morning Keynote Introduction by Honorable Don Ritter, Sc. D., President and CEO, Afghan-American Chamber of Commerce (AACC) Remarks by His Excellency Dr. Anwar-ul Haq Ahadi, Minister of Commerce & Industries, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan - Current Climate for Investment in Afghanistan == Beneath the Headlines Embassy of Afghanistan, Washington, D.C.
Matchmaking Conference 2012, Agenda Cont.
10:50-11:40 am
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Panel 2: Opportunities in Information Technology and Communications Session Moderator: Mr. Shafi Ghafoor, Vice President Operation, RANA Technologies - Present Successes and Future Opportunities in Internet Usage and Applications Ms. Kathleen McGowan, Senior Policy Advisor for Afghanistan, USAID Washington Market Economy Applications Potential for Wireless Telecommunications Ms. Roya Mahboob, Director and Chief Executive Officer, Afghan Citadel Software Company - Women's Empowerment through ICT Mr. Robert A. Kinn, Afghanistan & Interagency Issues, FCI Senior Information Analyst, DOD CIO Strategy & Policy Mr. Monty Simus, Vice President, Business Development, Telephone Systems International (TSI) - Phones2Women and Phones4Health: Opportunities For Mobile Telephony Mr. Siddhartha Raja, ICT Policy Specialist, The World Bank Group - Three Ideas for Next Three Years
11:45 am-12:00 pm
U.S. Department of Commerce Role in the Future of Afghanistan Mr. Kenneth E. Hyatt, Acting Deputy Undersecretary for International Trade, U.S. Department of Commerce, International Trade Administration
12:00-1:15 pm
Luncheon and Networking
1:30-2:20 pm
PANEL 3: Mining and Natural Resources Development Session Moderator: Mr. Benjamin A. Hamilton, MBA, Director of Strategic Initiatives, AECOM Mr. Sadat Mansoor Naderi, Chairman, Afghan Gold & Minerals Co. Mr. Jim Hogan, Senior Vice President, Carrara Marble Company of America, Inc. Ms. Emily Scott, Director, Natural Resource Development, DoD Task Force for Business and Stability Operations (TFBSO) Mr. Said H. Mirzad, Co-Coordinator, Afghanistan Program, U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)
2:20-2:40 pm
Afternoon Keynote Mr. James L. Bullion, Director, DoD Task Force for Business and Stability Operations (TFBSO) - Investment and Business Growth in Key Sectors
2:40-3:00 pm
PANEL 4: Culture and Tourism: Prospects and Possibilities Session Moderator: Ms. Cheryl Benard, Ph. D., Board of Directors, AACC; Adjunct Researcher, RAND Corporation; Founding President, Alliance for the Restoration of Cultural Heritage (ARCH) Professor Ghulam Nabi Farahi, Deputy Minister, Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism, Government of Islamic Republic of Afghanistan Ms. Laura A. Tedesco, Ph. D., Cultural Heritage Program Manager, Office of Public Diplomacy, State Dep’t. Bureau of South and Central Asia Affairs - Recent achievements and current USG Cultural programs in Afghanistan
3:00-5:00 pm
“One-On-One” Networking Sessions with Speakers, Panelists and Attendee Experts AACC Conference Speakers and Panelists Coordinator, LTC. Ret’d. U.S. Army, Dr. Ed Corcoran
5:00 pm
Closing Remarks and Announcements Hon. Don Ritter, Sc. D.
Embassy of Afghanistan, Washington, D.C.
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********************************************************************************************************* MONDAY EVENING DECEMBER 3, 2012 Mix & Mingle Dinner Reception Awards Presentation Capitol Ballroom The JW Marriott Washington, D.C. 1331 Pennsylvania Avenue NW Washington, D.C. Hosts AACC Board Chairman, Sulaiman Lutfi and President and CEO, Hon. Don Ritter On Behalf of the Afghan American Chamber of Commerce (AACC) 6:00-9:00 pm
Mix & Mingle Dinner Reception Awards Presentation
6:30 pm Professor Ghulam Nabi Farahi, Deputy Minister, Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism, Government of Islamic Republic of Afghanistan Mr. Mohammad Qurban Haqjo, Chief Executive Officer, Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Industries (ACCI) “Afghanistan, The Land of Rising Opportunities” A Short Movie Produced by: Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Industries (ACCI) 7:00-7:15 pm
Introduction of Board Members & Sister Organization Officials AACC Chairman of the Board and President & CEO
Recognition of Sponsors AACC Businessperson of the Year Award Presented by the AACC Board of Directors Mr. Nadim M. Amin Afghan Resources Group (ARG) Performance Excellence & Support for AACC Award Presented by the AACC Board of Directors Mr. Zamari M. Kamgar Kam Group Senate of Islamic Republic of Afghanistan Award Presented by Senior Advisor to the Chairman of the Senate (Mashrano Jirga) of Afghanistan Honorable Don Ritter, Sc. D. *********************************************************************************************************
Embassy of Afghanistan, Washington, D.C.
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TUESDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2012 Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center Atrium Ballroom 1300 Pennsylvania Avenue N.W., Washington, D.C. 20004 8:00 -9:00 am
Registration and Networking Continental Breakfast
9:00 am-5:00 pm
Opening of Trade & Informational Fair
9:00-9:15 am
Welcoming Remarks and Outline of Days Schedule AACC Chairman of the Board, Mr. Sulaiman Lutfi AACC President & CEO, Hon. Don Ritter, Sc. D.
9:15-9:30 am
Morning Keynote His Excellency Noorullah Delawari, Governor, Central Bank of Afghanistan - The State of Afghanistan’s Banking System
9:30-10:05 am
PANEL 5: Transportation and Logistics Session Moderator: Mr. Abdul W. Qargha, Business Development, Operations, UniTrans International, Inc. LTG (Ret’d) Robert T. Dail, U.S. Army ,President, Supreme Group U.S.A., LLC, Potential for Afghanistan as Regional Hub: Private Sector View Mr. Michael Timcke (on behalf of Mr. Zamari M. Kamgar), Director of Business Development, Kam Group (Kam Air) – The Future of Regional Air Transport Mr. Redding Hobby, Deputy Director, Logistics Operations, J3, Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) - Hub Potential and Challenges from a DoD/DLA Perspective Mr. Mel O. J. Cintron, Transportation Counselor, U.S. Embassy in Afghanistan; Manager, General Aviation and Commercial Division at the Federal Aviation Administration U.S. Department of Transportation
10:05-10:25 am
Keynote Address Mr. Hugh Haworth, Senior Economics Advisor, Bureau for Economic Growth, Education, and Environment, United States Agency for International Development (USAID)
10:25-10:35 am
Coffee/Tea Networking Break
10:30-10:45 am
Keynote Address Col (R) James B. Balocki, SES, Chief, International and Interagency Services, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) - USACE Future in Afghanistan
10:50 am-12:00 pm Panel 6: Construction and Infrastructure in an Era of Transition Session Moderator: Mr. Mohan Singh, P.E, Board of Directors, AACC; V. P. Federal, Michael Baker Jr., Inc. (Ex-USACE Senior Executive Service) Mr. Stephen Brent Appleton, MSM, CD, PEng, MBA, MSS, President & Founder, Appleton Consulting, Inc. - A New Approach for the Construction Industry Ms. Allyson Fischer, Proposal Manager, ECC International- Construction Lessons Learned Mr. Nadim M. Amin, Chief Executive Officer, Afghan Resources Group (ARG), Board of Directors, AACC - An Afghan Company Perspective Mr. Mike Valerio, Ed. D, P.E., Chief, Engineering & Technical Services Division, Regional Programs Directorate , Transatlantic Division, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) – USACE Engagement in Energy and Water Projects Mr. Allen Eisendrath, Ph. D., Senior Infrastructure Finance Specialist, Office of Infrastructure & Engineering, USAID - USAID's Energy Sector Program at a Time of Transition Mr. Naeem Yassin, President and CEO, Afghanistan Builders Association (ABA) - How ABA Serves Afghan Construction Companies Embassy of Afghanistan, Washington, D.C.
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12:00-12:15 pm
Luncheon Keynote The Honorable Raymond H. "Ray" LaHood, Cabinet Secretary, U. S. Department of Transportation (DoT) - A DoT Role in Enhancing Afghanistan as Regional Hub
12:15-1:15 pm
Lunch and Networking
1:15-2:30 pm
Panel 7: Financing and Promoting the Afghan Private Sector in a Time of Transition Session Moderator: Ambassador Said Tayeb Jawad, Chief Executive Officer, Capitalize LLC - How Investors See Afghanistan – Some Good News for a Change Mr. Mohammad Qurban Haqjo, Chief Executive Officer, Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Industries (ACCI) Mr. Charles Siner, International Trade Specialist, Afghanistan and Iraq Reconstruction Task Force (AIRTF) , Department of Commerce - New and Expanded DoC Private Sector Initiatives on-the-Ground in Afghanistan Mr. John Didiuk, Esq. , Senior Investment Officer, Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) - OPIC Financing of Businesses in Afghanistan Mr. Mustafa Kazim, Managing Director, Afghan Growth Finance (AGF), Fund Management Team - SME Potential in Afghanistan Mr. Joji Tokeshi, Country Director, Afghanistan Resident Mission, Asian Development Bank (ADB) - ADB Private Sector Activity in Light of Transition Ambassador (Ret.) Thomas J. Miller, Ph. D., President & CEO, International Executive Service Corps (IESC) - Assistance in Building Afghanistan by Developing Enterprises (ABADE) program, USAID Mr. Brendan O'Donoghue, Investment Specialist, DoD Task Force for Business and Stability Operations (TFBSO) - How TFBSO Looks at Investing in Afghanistan
2:30-4:30 pm
“One-On-One” Networking Sessions with Speakers, Panelists and Attendee Experts AACC Conference Speakers and Panelists Coordinator, LTC Ret’d. U.S. Army, Dr. Ed Corcoran
4:30-4:35 pm
Conference Wrap-up AACC Chairman of the Board, Sulaiman Lutfi and President & CEO, Hon. Don Ritter
Embassy of Afghanistan, Washington, D.C.