Afghan delegation being briefed on the greenhouse and irrigation technology

04 March 2006: Prominent government and business figures from Afghanistan and Malaysia spent more than a week at the end of February discussing ways of realizing the existing potential for business development in Afghanistan with Malaysian know-how, and perhaps, capital with the outcome encouraging everyone involved.

Thanks to a UNDP initiative taken by the Country Office in Malaysia with the involvement of MARDITECH (Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute), and linked to UNDP Office in Afghanistan, a delegation of more than 20 Afghan government and business representatives visited Malaysia between February 22 and March 2 under the leadership of Dr. Hassan Abdullahi, Deputy Minister of Rural Rehabilitation and Development.

In particular focus was the agricultural industry that could help Afghanistan, where most of the fruit produce is spoilt before it can be consumed or properly dried.

Mr. Abdullahi was straightforward in his speech to the joint meeting of Afghan and Malaysian delegates on February 28: “We believe that in order to develop institutions for agricultural development in Afghanistan, Malaysian technology is relevant and essential…” he said. He went even further to propose three steps of tangible cooperation to be taken without delay. “I look forward to the initiation of at least three pilot projects spanning quality assurance and standards, fruit processing and value added production of dry fruits to commence this year”, he said. His Malaysian counterpart, Dato Joseph Salang, Deputy Foreign Minister of Malaysia was equally forthcoming. “We are ready to provide training in existing and new areas, including rural development, privatization and disaster preparedness” he said. Both Ministers thanked the UNDP and called for its continued engagement in the process.

The visit followed an earlier assessment mission by a MARDITECH team to Afghanistan in October 2005, which concluded that there was encouraging potential in reviving and expanding the fruit processing sector in Afghanistan. Immediately after visit the Marditech team prepared an “Action Plan”, which is now being implemented in stages.

At the lab of a fruit processing industry

The visit may have produced more than the Afghan delegation has bargained for: Preparations are already underway for a March 14-15 seminar in Kuala Lumpur on business opportunities between Malaysia and Afghanistan for investors interested in investing in Afghanistan.

Further, there are signs that Malaysian businessmen have already been nurturing the idea of establishing a “Malaysian-Afghan Joint Business Council” to regulate what is hoped to be increasingly frequent interaction between the business communities of the two countries.