COMMERCE MINISTER SHAHRANI - GOOD TRIP TO WASHINGTON, NOW

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KABUL 003306 SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPT FOR S/SRAP STAFF, SCA/FO, SCA/RA, SCA/A, EEB/TPP/BTA DEPT PASS AID/ASIA SCAA DEPT FOR H DEPT PASS USTR FOR DELANEY AND DEANGELIS TREASURY FOR MHIRSON, ABAUKOL, AWELLER, AND MNUGENT COMMERCE FOR HAMROCK-MANN, DEES, AND FONOVICH E.O.12958: N/A TAGS: ETRD BEXP PREL PGOV AF PK SUBJECT: COMMERCE MINISTER SHAHRANI - GOOD TRIP TO WASHINGTON, NOW BACK WORKING ON TRANSIT TRADE REF: KABUL 3176 ¶1. (SBU) Summary. Minister of Commerce and Industries Shahrani reported on his October 4 - 8 trip to Washington, including take-aways from the U.S./Afghanistan trade and investment framework agreement (TIFA) talks and his participation in the TIFA meeting with the Central Asian countries. He shared with Coordinating Director Wayne his appreciation for USG support for Afghanistan's bid for WTO membership and discussed at length the talks with Pakistan on a transit trade agreement. On the transit trade agreement talks with Pakistan, Shahrani said that he had worked out a way ahead with Foreign Minister Spanta and that the Foreign Ministry was formally inviting Pakistan to send its delegation to Kabul in November to continue the negotiations. However, the Commerce Ministry has picked up signs that Islamabad prefers to wait until the post-election picture in Kabul is clarified. Nevertheless, Shahrani stated his team's willingness to redouble efforts to complete the agreement by the end of the year. End summary. TIFA and Other Washington Meetings -------------- ¶2. (U) Minister of Commerce and Industries (MOCI) Wahidullah Shahrani told Coordinating Director for Development and Economic Affairs (CDDEA),Ambassador E. Anthony Wayne, October 13 that he found his discussions the previous week in Washington useful and that he was focusing on follow-up. (Shahrani's views on the Afghan political situation were reported septel.) Shahrani expressed appreciation for meetings with Deputy Secretary of State Lew, Commerce Secretary Locke, the U.S. Trade Representative, D/USTR Marantis, SRAP Holbrooke, USAID Acting Administrator Fulgham, and five members of Congress. One takeaway from his talks with Sen. Bond, Rep. Van Hollen, and others was the importance of bringing visiting members out to USAID and other assistance projects to see the positive impacts in livelihoods, incomes, and employment in Afghanistan resulting from U.S. assistance. ¶3. (U) On his direct participation in the annual U.S. Afghanistan Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) talks and his participation as an invited observer in the TIFA talks with the Central Asian countries, Shahrani noted the importance of the Defense Department's Northern Distribution Networks (NDNs) initiative. The initiative stems from a Congressional waiver that allows for the purchase of goods and services from the region. Minister Shahrani said he will mobilize Afghan private sector firms that can meet the standards set for the initiative. Border Crossing -------------- ¶4. (U) Also as a result of his Washington discussions, Shahrani told Ambassador Wayne he is looking to facilitate efforts by international forces to receive their supplies without delays, particularly at Heiratan and Sher Kan Bandar (SKB) border crossings in the north. Sharani noted ISAF IJC Commander LTG Rodriguez' interest in improving the situation at SKB and Hairatan and said he was looking to step up Ministry staff at those crossings, adding he had talked to the Finance Minister and Central Bank Governor about other steps GIRoA might take. The Minister also said that in Hairatan and Torygundy, where the Commerce Ministry runs the Fuel Liquid Gas Enterprise (FLGE),a state-owned fuel distribution company, he has achieved 24 hour/seven days a week operations. He said he is engaging the Central Bank and Finance Ministry to end the practice at these two crossing points where, reportedly, officials have worked only eight hours a day, even though trucks continuously crossed in from Uzbekistan and Tajikistan. Shahrani was pleased his efforts had meant Afghan officials, unlike in past years, had worked at the crossing points during the Eid holidays. WTO --- ¶5. (SBU) With regard to progress on WTO, Minister Shahrani expressed thanks for Ambassador Kirk's support for Afghanistan's WTO membership. Shahrani noted MOCI's submission of the Memorandum of Foreign Trade Regime (MFTR) in March 2009 and the establishment of a WTO Unit within the Ministry as signs of the progress the Afghan Government is making. To advance Afghanistan's WTO application further, Shahrani said he would leave the next day for Tanzania and a conference for Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and the WTO where KABUL 00003306 002 OF 002 he would also meet WTO Director General Lamy. Shahrani added he thought USTR Kirk had helped arrange the Lamy meeting and that he appreciated the USG's help. Reconstruction Opportunity Zones/ Boosting Afghan Prosperity -------------- ¶6. (U) The status and importance of the reconstruction opportunity zone (ROZ) legislation was the chief focus of Commerce Minister Shahrani's meetings with senators and congressmen. While noting passage is delayed in the Senate, Minister Shahrani said he would use this time to initiate feasibility studies of six to eight locations likely suitable for ROZs. The studies will focus on product, labor availability, and access to markets. USAID's planned Trade & Accession Facilitation for Afghanistan (TAFA) will also provide support. ¶7. (U) Further on boosting Afghanistan's economic growth, Ambassador Wayne noted a recent phone call with Ambassador Verveer regarding women and entrepreneurship and said the Embassy wanted to expand efforts in this area. Minister Shahrani and USAID agreed to meet to discuss efforts further to strengthen the opportunities for firms owned by Afghan women to supply U.S. firms. Minister Shahrani added that Afghan women traditionally worked in producing carpets, shawls, and cashmere. Afghanistan/Pakistan Transit Trade Agreement (APPTA) -------------- -------------- ¶8. (SBU) Minister Shahrani expressed appreciation for his discussions with Deputy Secretary Lew and SRAP Holbrooke on the transit trade negotiations. He noted the confusion that existed in Kabul, i.e., with the Foreign Ministry, over the provision for a study on re-exports/smuggling. He added that some had suggested the two Ministries of Interior needed to be brought into the process since they are responsible for the borders. The reality, however, is that neither side is able to control the border, and so, Shahrani continued, it is best to continue focusing on the trade. ¶9. (SBU) Since returning to Kabul, Shahrani met with Foreign Minister Spanta to brief him on the talks and the importance of proceeding with the study on re-exports. Shahrani said he thought he had reached an understanding with Spanta on a way ahead which he thought Pakistan's Government might accept. He said Spanta had not been properly briefed on the terms of reference for the re-export study. Shahrani said the Foreign Affairs Ministry's First Political Department would issue an official letter that day to invite the Pakistani delegation from to the next negotiating round November 10-11. Moreover, the Afghan side is offering to hold several negotiation rounds per month to conclude the agreement by the end of the year deadline. The Commerce Minister noted, however, that the Pakistani side may hold back due to the political situation in Afghanistan resulting from the results of the August elections. The Afghan MFA, he continued, is also uncertain as to the level of commitment in Pakistan's Government to successful transit trade talks. [Note: A senior Commerce Ministry official subsequently told emboffs Pakistan's Embassy in Kabul informed MOCI that Islamabad does not think talks should proceed until the political situation in Kabul is clarified. End note.] ¶10. (SBU) Focusing on the re-export study, Shahrani stated the assessment will go in a "parallel way," so as to coincide with, but not be integrated into APTTA negotiations, reflecting on Spanta's concern. The study will take 6 - 12 months, providing sufficient time to understand the impact -- positive and negative -- on the border areas. The Minister said he expects international experts, provided through USAID's TAFA program, to guide the study, but that Afghans could participate as needed, for example, in conducting field work. He offered to introduce possible staff who could support this effort. The Minister also suggested forming a joint committee to explore implementing the study's recommendations and to further information sharing. Shahrani stated blocking the trade would negatively affect 40% of Pakistan's tribal areas, who are largely dependent upon this trade for their livelihoods. Ambassador Wayne said it was good that the Minister was thinking about the talks, maintaining a strategic sense of their value and how to advance them. Maintaining such a perspective is important to ensuring the talks' success. EIKENBERRY