Kandahar to host big business conference

[randolph85]

I cannot speak about Mazar since I have little knowledge of that city. Regarding Kabul i can tell you the following:

There are a number of prominent investors and businessmen I know from the communist era up until now who have always managed to negotiate their way into Afghanistan and make a profit.

There are two groups among them. One is a primarily Kochi group of investors who are able to maintain ties with local strongmen in Nangarhar and Kabul like Haji Zahir and Haji Din Muhammad and Karzai.

Due to their good relationship with them they have managed to secure their position in import export real estate and transport business.

There is another group of primarily Tajik investors who are linked to Fahims maffia in Kabul. They have a history of ties with KHAD back in the 80s til the fall of communist and the take over by Shoraye Nezar. This group is currently the most powerful conglomerate of businessmen and investors.

When you see thriving business and prosperity in places like Kabul and Nangarhar you are basicallu seeing mainly two groups linked to strongmen.

Others who do not have such links are basically loosing their money. In fact the two groups fight turf wars frequently via parliament, minstries and even armed forces.

When we take these two groups out and see what is left of business in Kabul and Nangarhar all you will see is shoe shining, fruit salesmen, market stalls etc.

Thats just the way it is. I wanted to move back to Kabul and do something, but Fahims gang wont even allow me to build on my own land. I happen to be one in millions in Kabul being victimized by the current government.

Even when we tried to fight the local warlords via judiciary system, the judge told our chief to give him 50.000 dollars otherwise he wont even open our folder.

Due to these circumstances many are forced to stay away from Afghanistan. I know many young people who are willing to go back and settle there and start a business. But corruption and warlords are making things impossible for us.

Well of course there is corruption when it comes to investments and business in the country, there is no doubt about it. Regardless of this though, it speaks volumes about the condition of certain parts of the country based on where these investments are taking place. If even connected corrupt southerners don't want to invest in the south then that says something about the business environment of the south. If the biggest stake holders of Kandahar don't want to invest in it, the smaller fish are going to be struggling to say the least.

[Shamlawar Khurasani]

Admin, i was going to respond to you but then i realized you are still quite agitated. Plus i have decided not to pick up fights for the rest of Ramadan. So i will let this pass.

[Shamlawar Khurasani]

Well of course there is corruption when it comes to investments and business in the country, there is no doubt about it. Regardless of this though, it speaks volumes about the condition of certain parts of the country based on where these investments are taking place. If even connected corrupt southerners don't want to invest in the south then that says something about the business environment of the south. If the biggest stake holders of Kandahar don't want to invest in it, the smaller fish are going to be struggling to say the least.

I dont know much about businessmen from Kandahar. I cant comment on that. What I do know is that Karzais maffia is doing in Kandahar what Din Muhammad and Fahim are doing in Kabul.

[randolph85]

I dont know much about businessmen from Kandahar. I cant comment on that. What I do know is that Karzais maffia is doing in Kandahar what Din Muhammad and Fahim are doing in Kabul.

Like you said in the thread about paki education for afghan students, isn't some business better than none?

[Shamlawar Khurasani]

Like you said in the thread about paki education for afghan students, isn't some business better than none?

No. Because these businesses are designed to enrich some and to impovrish all others. They dont have any long term benefit for the community.

Regarding paki education, it is better than no education but it is not what we would prefer.

If you study the history of USA you will find that there are certain similarities. Back in the 19th century the politicians, public servants and local strongmen were serving their own interests. It was only after civil service reform and the efforts of the progressive reform movement that we saw a dramatic change in overall improvement of circumstances for growth, stability and raising of the living standards of workers and lower class.

In Afghanistan the government is like the American government in the early 19th century but much worse.

[Shamlawar Khurasani]

Worst thing is that those who are making profits in Afghanistan do not invest it back in Afghanistan. But rather they transfer their assets to Turkey and Gulf where they own real estate and are shareholders in industry.

[randolph85]

No. Because these businesses are designed to enrich some and to impovrish all others. They dont have any long term benefit for the community.

business's that operate on this model do not last very long, anywhere in the world.

Regarding paki education, it is better than no education but it is not what we would prefer.

i don't know how you can spin a paki state approved curriculum as being better than nothing. as an afghan living in these areas, unless they want to work in pakistan, nothing would probably be better.

[Shamlawar Khurasani]

Thats exactly my point. They do not benefit the locals.

Most people from Paktia will probably find a job in Pakistan or go to the Arabian peninsula to find work. If they can read and write then its all good.