ACTING COMMERCE MINISTER ENDORSES PRIVATE SECTOR AND TRADE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KABUL 000465 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAID ETRD PGOV PBTS EINV EIND AF SUBJECT: ACTING COMMERCE MINISTER ENDORSES PRIVATE SECTOR AND TRADE DEVELOPMENT ¶1. (U) Summary: In a January 31 meeting, newly-designated Acting Minister of Commerce and Industries (MoCI) Ghulam Mohammed Aylaqi told Coordinating Director for Development and Economic Affairs Ambassador Wayne that the Afghanistan-Pakistan Transit Trade Agreement (APTTA) is his "highest priority." Ambassador Wayne urged continued progress on APTTA and agreement prior to the Kabul Conference. He also highlighted the need to transfer MOCI land for customs facilities at Torkham Gate to the Ministry of Finance in order to strengthen trade flows and customs enforcement. Aylaqi expressed support for private sector and legal-regulatory reforms through the USAID Economic Growth and Governance Initiative (EGGI) project designed during former Commerce Minister Wahidullah Shahrani's tenure. Ambassador Wayne offered continued USG support to MoCI to promote private sector development and an enabling business environment. Aylaqi sought further USG assistance from EGGI in: 1) policy and budget execution; 2) business registration and licensing; 3) commercial laws and regulations; 4) a commercial dispute resolution mechanism; and 5) industrial park development and management. End Summary. -------------- APTTA, WTO ACCESSION, AND BORDERS PROGRESS -------------- ¶2. (U) Ambassador Wayne opened the meeting by reiterating USG support for APTTA, citing the final communiqu from the London Conference which stressed the importance of completing the negotiations as soon as possible. He also expressed interest in the next round and encouraged agreement before the upcoming Kabul Conference. Responding that APTTA was his "highest priority," the Acting Minister requested continued U.S. support with the negotiations and expressed appreciation for USG technical assistance under the USAID Trade and Accession Facilitation in Afghanistan (TAFA) project. Aylaqi also noted MoCI progress on World Trade Organization accession; a questionnaire was received from the WTO Secretariat in Geneva and MoCI anticipates submission of responses by mid-April. ¶3. (SBU) Ambassador Wayne requested that Acting Minister Aylaqi work with the Ministry of Finance (MoF) to transfer land at Torkham Gate from MoCI to the Ministry of Finance to speed progress on building customs facilities that will improve customs clearance and trade flows. The land is to be used for a new Customs truck processing area, which will facilitate trade after APTTA is signed. Aylaqi responded that the processing area is a good idea, but he did not trust MoF to pay for the land. -------------- ADVANCING AFGHANISTAN'S PRIVATE SECTOR AND ENABLING ENVIRONMENT -------------- ¶4. (U) The USAID Office of Economic Growth briefed the Acting Minister on the EGGI project, stressing that it promotes economic growth by emphasizing private sector development to create sustainable industries and jobs. EGGI provides technical advisors at MoCI to advance: 1) policy and budget execution, 2) business registration and licensing, 3) commercial laws and regulations, 4) a commercial dispute resolution mechanism, and 5) industrial park development and management. Aylaqi welcomed and strongly supported continued EGGI assistance with the following: -USAID senior policy advisor to the Minister for private sector development. This position will assess and develop a roadmap for attracting foreign direct investment and ways to improve the business enabling environment. -Expanding and improving capacities of the Afghan Central Business Registry (ACBR). EGGI will provide advisory and equipment assistance to existing ACBR offices in Kabul, Jalalabad, Mazar-e Sharif, and Herat, as well as planned offices in Kandahar, Kunduz, and other potential locations. Aylaqi said he was committed to improving the ACBR and its capacity, adding that he is in the process of hiring a director. -Development and adoption of new commercial laws and regulations as recommended by international financial institutions. EGGI works with the MoCI Legal Department on bankruptcy, company, contracts, and agency laws and amendments to the private investment law. To ensure adequate understanding and implementation of laws under MoCI mandate, the USAID representative emphasized that the Department be properly staffed and financed. EGGI assistance will provide legal training to MoCI and the greater legal community to ensure broad understanding and methods of practice. -Developing a functional and competitive Industrial Parks Authority. EGGI will conduct a demand study on industrial parks in Afghanistan and management of the industrial parks system. The advisor will provide feedback and recommendations for how to move forward based on international best practices. Acting Minister Aylaqi expressed KABUL 00000465 002 OF 002 agreement with this approach. He said his vision includes an industrial park in each of Afghanistan's 34 provinces, although the USG largely sees this as unrealistic and suggests an assessment of what currently exists, followed by a phased approached targeting commercial centers and trade corridors. (Comment: Afghanistan's institutional arrangements for overseeing Industrial Parks are split between the government's Ministry of Commerce Industrial Park Department - with nearly 200 employees - and Afghanistan's Investment Support Agency (AISA) - a quasi governmental institution with greater flexibility and dynamism. During the summer of 2009, President Karzai signed a decree to establish the Afghanistan Industrial Park Development Authority (AIPDA),which would consolidate Afghanistan's parks under a new quasi-governmental institution to reduce confusion and forge a way ahead. Donors are waiting to see how/if AIPDA will be mobilized to assume this new function. End Comment) ¶5. (SBU) Acting Minister Aylaqi highlighted the need for advice and the importance of training, and asked for help in strengthening the ministry's capabilities. With a row of senior ministry officials in attendance, Aylaqi presented the image of a ministry with depth, although how progressive these senior managers are remains to be seen. Ambassador Wayne urged MoCI to execute more of its development budget and to take greater control over its internal development both in Kabul and in the provinces. -------------- COMMENT -------------- ¶6. (SBU) President Karzai's first nomination for Commerce Minister in December 2009, Aylaqi failed to garner Parliament's support. A second nominee also did not pass muster, and a third will likely be presented after Parliament returns from recess on February 21. Parliament will reportedly not approve the semi-annual budget until candidates for the remaining unfilled ministerial posts are submitted. Should a new Minister be appointed, Aylaqi is expected to remain in the ministry in some capacity -- as a Senior Policy Advisor or Deputy Minister. Although approaching 70 years in age, with limited English and educated in the era when command economies were in fashion, Aylaqi was receptive to legal-regulatory reforms and USG technical assistance. Whether he is truly committed to reducing state intervention and transforming the ministry's state-owned enterprises, such as the Fuel Liquid Gas Enterprise (FLGE),is not yet known. Conclusion of the APTTA was his stated "highest priority." To truly manage the process well, however, GIROA needs a full-time dedicated lead. This is currently held by Adib Farhadi, who is simultaneously serving as Commercial Attach in Australia, raising questions about how much time he is spending on this issue. EIKENBERRY