Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08ISLAMABAD16
2008-01-03 05:23:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Islamabad
Cable title:
IMPLEMENTATION OF RECONSTRUCTION OPPORTUNITY ZONES REQUIRES
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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ISLAMABAD 000016
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED
DEPT - PLEASE PASS TO USAID, USTR, USTDA
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON PGOV PK ETRD EAID PREL AFGHAN
SUBJECT: IMPLEMENTATION OF RECONSTRUCTION OPPORTUNITY ZONES REQUIRES
IMMEDIATE COORDINATED INTER-AGENCY ACTION
ISLAMABAD 00000016 001.3 OF 003
//////////////ZFR//////////ZFR///////////ZFR/ ///////////////
//////////PER DRAFTER, PLS ZFR IMI ZFR (CANCEL) ISLAMABAD////
/////////MRN 0016 SECTIONS 01 THRU 03 DTG 030523Z JAN 08////
/////////AND BLANK IMI BLANK ALL ASSOCIATED MCNS. MSG WILL
////////BE RESENT UNDER NEW MCNS/MRN. SORRY FOR ANY AND ALL//
////////INCONVENIENCES/////////////////////// ////////////////
///////////////////////////////////////////// ////////////////
ISLAMABAD 00000016 002 OF 003
6. (SBU) Transit Trade. Recommendations include USG support to
update the bilateral 1965 Afghan Transit Trade Treaty which governs
the movement of goods between Afghanistan and Pakistan. TDY exports
are requested to coordinate and develop a mutually acceptable
working draft.
7. (SBU) Labor. Recommendations include improvements in labor
inspections, labor standards, and best practices for companies on
both sides of the border. TDY technical experts are requested to
assist in training and reestablishing labor inspections.
8. (SBU) Investment Incentives. Recommendations include working with
the Governments of Afghanistan and Pakistan to develop their
internal incentives to lure investment to the targeted ROZ
locations.
9. (SBU) Financing. Recommendations include development of creative
financial incentives and structures which will allow multinational
corporations and smaller local business to operate in these
difficult areas.
10. (SBU) Infrastructure Upgrades. Existing industrial parks in
Afghanistan and in the border areas of Pakistan will make ideal
locations to designate as the initial ROZ sights, however some
infrastructure upgrades will be necessary to meet safety codes and
ensure attractiveness to international companies.
11. (SBU) Training and Institutional Development. Vocational and
skills training targeted specifically to the product sectors which
will receive duty free preferences has the potential to transform
the region by employing the scores of youth seeking a positive
focus.
12. (SBU) Market Outreach and Trade Promotion. Duty free
preferences are not successful if not included as part of a
coordinated plan to help move goods to awaiting markets. Capacity
building for local producers and buyers will open doors and connect
these isolated regions to the world economy.
13. (SBU) Agriculture and Forestry. Recommendations include capacity
building for agricultural development of best practices, improved
production, safety standards and livelihood empowerment of women and
youth. TDY technical experts are requested to assist in assessing
the current agricultural situations and determining areas where USG
assistance would be most effective in the ROZs.
14. (SBU) Embassy Islamabad would also request that the SCA bureau
lead the efforts for outreach to the Afghan and Pakistani Embassies
in Washington. Close coordination with Afghan and Pakistani
counterparts in Washington will be essential not only for
Congressional approval but also for reinforcing the implementation
coordination taking place with Ministries in Islamabad and Kabul.
15. (SBU) This message and the supporting initiatives chart has been
coordinated with Embassy Kabul. The supporting initiatives chart
has been sent via unclassified email to the following people in
Washington:
For the Department of State: Richard Boucher; Caitlin Hayden; Don
Camp; Allysa Aries; John Fox; Edward Wittenstein; Daniel Sullivan;
Bill Craft; Christian DeAngelis; Colin Guest; Edwin Sagurton; Alfred
Anzaldua; Mark Mittlehauser; Leo Gallagher; Jack Spillsbury; Neil
Kromash; Shamila Chaudhary; Michael O'Malley; Richard Sacks; Rozina
Damanwala
For USTR: Claudio Lillenfeld; Scott Quesenberry, Lewis Karesh, James
Murphy; Aaron Rosenberg
For Commerce: Susan Hamrock, Awinash Bawle
For Treasury: Stephaine Segal, Gordona Earp, Timothy Skud, Andrew
Bauckol,
For OPIC: Dolce Zahnister, Kevin Callahan
ISLAMABAD 00000016 003 OF 003
For US Agriculture: Mark Keenum, Ellen Terpstra, Michael Yost,
Constance Jackson, Kirk Miller, Pat Sheikh, Chuck Alexander, Frank
Lee, Ross Kreamer, James Dever
For AID: Mark Ward, Lisa Chiles, Kay Freeman, Nitin Madhav, James
Walker, William Butterfield,
For NSC: Elizabeth Millard, Patricia Mahoney, John Harriman
For Labor: Charlotte M. Ponticelli, Lawrence W. Casey, Rachel Rigby
For Department of Homeland Security: Marisa Lino, Karen Marmaud,
Michael Feinberg, Jamie Zuieback, Mark Mullen,
Luke Bellocchi, Janet Labuda, Brian Fennessy
PATTERSON
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED
DEPT - PLEASE PASS TO USAID, USTR, USTDA
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON PGOV PK ETRD EAID PREL AFGHAN
SUBJECT: IMPLEMENTATION OF RECONSTRUCTION OPPORTUNITY ZONES REQUIRES
IMMEDIATE COORDINATED INTER-AGENCY ACTION
ISLAMABAD 00000016 001.3 OF 003
//////////////ZFR//////////ZFR///////////ZFR/ ///////////////
//////////PER DRAFTER, PLS ZFR IMI ZFR (CANCEL) ISLAMABAD////
/////////MRN 0016 SECTIONS 01 THRU 03 DTG 030523Z JAN 08////
/////////AND BLANK IMI BLANK ALL ASSOCIATED MCNS. MSG WILL
////////BE RESENT UNDER NEW MCNS/MRN. SORRY FOR ANY AND ALL//
////////INCONVENIENCES/////////////////////// ////////////////
///////////////////////////////////////////// ////////////////
ISLAMABAD 00000016 002 OF 003
6. (SBU) Transit Trade. Recommendations include USG support to
update the bilateral 1965 Afghan Transit Trade Treaty which governs
the movement of goods between Afghanistan and Pakistan. TDY exports
are requested to coordinate and develop a mutually acceptable
working draft.
7. (SBU) Labor. Recommendations include improvements in labor
inspections, labor standards, and best practices for companies on
both sides of the border. TDY technical experts are requested to
assist in training and reestablishing labor inspections.
8. (SBU) Investment Incentives. Recommendations include working with
the Governments of Afghanistan and Pakistan to develop their
internal incentives to lure investment to the targeted ROZ
locations.
9. (SBU) Financing. Recommendations include development of creative
financial incentives and structures which will allow multinational
corporations and smaller local business to operate in these
difficult areas.
10. (SBU) Infrastructure Upgrades. Existing industrial parks in
Afghanistan and in the border areas of Pakistan will make ideal
locations to designate as the initial ROZ sights, however some
infrastructure upgrades will be necessary to meet safety codes and
ensure attractiveness to international companies.
11. (SBU) Training and Institutional Development. Vocational and
skills training targeted specifically to the product sectors which
will receive duty free preferences has the potential to transform
the region by employing the scores of youth seeking a positive
focus.
12. (SBU) Market Outreach and Trade Promotion. Duty free
preferences are not successful if not included as part of a
coordinated plan to help move goods to awaiting markets. Capacity
building for local producers and buyers will open doors and connect
these isolated regions to the world economy.
13. (SBU) Agriculture and Forestry. Recommendations include capacity
building for agricultural development of best practices, improved
production, safety standards and livelihood empowerment of women and
youth. TDY technical experts are requested to assist in assessing
the current agricultural situations and determining areas where USG
assistance would be most effective in the ROZs.
14. (SBU) Embassy Islamabad would also request that the SCA bureau
lead the efforts for outreach to the Afghan and Pakistani Embassies
in Washington. Close coordination with Afghan and Pakistani
counterparts in Washington will be essential not only for
Congressional approval but also for reinforcing the implementation
coordination taking place with Ministries in Islamabad and Kabul.
15. (SBU) This message and the supporting initiatives chart has been
coordinated with Embassy Kabul. The supporting initiatives chart
has been sent via unclassified email to the following people in
Washington:
For the Department of State: Richard Boucher; Caitlin Hayden; Don
Camp; Allysa Aries; John Fox; Edward Wittenstein; Daniel Sullivan;
Bill Craft; Christian DeAngelis; Colin Guest; Edwin Sagurton; Alfred
Anzaldua; Mark Mittlehauser; Leo Gallagher; Jack Spillsbury; Neil
Kromash; Shamila Chaudhary; Michael O'Malley; Richard Sacks; Rozina
Damanwala
For USTR: Claudio Lillenfeld; Scott Quesenberry, Lewis Karesh, James
Murphy; Aaron Rosenberg
For Commerce: Susan Hamrock, Awinash Bawle
For Treasury: Stephaine Segal, Gordona Earp, Timothy Skud, Andrew
Bauckol,
For OPIC: Dolce Zahnister, Kevin Callahan
ISLAMABAD 00000016 003 OF 003
For US Agriculture: Mark Keenum, Ellen Terpstra, Michael Yost,
Constance Jackson, Kirk Miller, Pat Sheikh, Chuck Alexander, Frank
Lee, Ross Kreamer, James Dever
For AID: Mark Ward, Lisa Chiles, Kay Freeman, Nitin Madhav, James
Walker, William Butterfield,
For NSC: Elizabeth Millard, Patricia Mahoney, John Harriman
For Labor: Charlotte M. Ponticelli, Lawrence W. Casey, Rachel Rigby
For Department of Homeland Security: Marisa Lino, Karen Marmaud,
Michael Feinberg, Jamie Zuieback, Mark Mullen,
Luke Bellocchi, Janet Labuda, Brian Fennessy
PATTERSON