8th Annual U.S. - Afghanistan Business Matchmaking Conference 2012 - December 2- 4, 2012 in Washington, D.C., U.S.A.

MCLEAN, Va., Nov. 19, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Afghan-American Chamber of Commerce (AACC) will hold its 8th Annual U.S. - Afghanistan Business Matchmaking Conference on December 2-4 at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center in Washington, D.C, with receptions at the J.W. Marriott Hotel on 14th St. and Pennsylvania Ave., across the street from the Conference.

"Once again, AACC will bring together a large contingent of business from Afghanistan with senior Afghan and U.S. officials and key western businesses active in Afghanistan," explained AACC President, former Congressman Don Ritter. He noted, "Our panelists are among the best and brightest in their respective areas, but beyond that, it is the opportunity for networking among Afghan and U.S. business people and officials from both countries, that is practically unparalleled". AACC's unique networking format includes 'one-on-one' sessions with speakers and panelists in the afternoons of the Conference.

"In an era of transitioning out of heavy military engagement to a more civilian-supported economy, the central role of the private sector to create sustainable wealth, products and services, and jobs for the Afghan people, cannot be overestimated," said Sulaiman Lutfi, Board Chairman of AACC.

The goal is to facilitate promotion of business-to-business relationships, the cornerstone of investment and trade between the U.S. and Afghanistan and a key factor in achieving stability in Afghanistan.

Panel discussions will cover the sectors of Transportation and Logistics; Agriculture and Food Processing; Information and Communications Technology (ICT); Mining and Natural Resources; and Construction and Infrastructure. Financing the Afghan Private Sector in a Time of Transition is a key panel for attendees.

AACC will be giving its 6th Annual Businessperson of the Year Award (to an American Company) and its first ever, Award for Performance Excellence and Support for AACC (to an Afghan company) on Monday evening, the 3rd of December. The award is given by the Board of Directors of AACC to the businessman or woman who has made a substantial contribution to the private sector and market economy in Afghanistan.

The Afghan-American Chamber of Commerce is the foremost non-governmental U.S. organization engaged in furthering business and developing the private sector in Afghanistan.  Information about AACC and the Conference Agenda is available at www.a-acc.org  

SOURCE Afghan-American Chamber of Commerce