AACC Hosts 10th Annual U.S. - Afghanistan Business Matchmaking Conference 2014

WASHINGTON, Nov. 19, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Afghan-American Chamber of Commerce (AACC) will hold its 10^th Annual U.S. - Afghanistan Business Matchmaking Conference on December 9, 10, and 11, 2014 at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center in Washington, D.C, with evening receptions at the J.W. Marriott Washington, D.C. Hotel on 14th St. and Pennsylvania Ave., across the street from the Conference. Some 150 Afghan businesspeople and government officials are expected to attend with a total turnout of over 300 people.

"This conference has been the longest running venue for Afghan and U.S. businesses to meet and forge strong business relationships across continents," explained Sulaiman Lutfi, Board Chairman of AACC.

"For the tenth consecutive year, AACC will bring together a large contingent of businesses from Afghanistan and senior Afghan and U.S. officials and key U.S. and 'western' businesses active in Afghanistan," he noted, "Our panelists are the best and brightest but beyond that, it is the opportunity for creative networking among Afghan and U.S. business people and key government officials from both countries and international financial organizations."

AACC's unique networking format includes 'One-on-One' sessions for attendees with speakers and panelists in the afternoons of the Conference.

"As we enter the Afghanistan's post-election period we see enormous investment and growth potential in Afghanistan. The international community has made the Afghan economy a priority, AACC supports that initiative," said AACC President and former U.S. Congressman Don Ritter.

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; Information and Communications Technology (ICT); Mining and Natural Resources; Construction and Infrastructure. Financing Afghan Business and Investment is a key panel for attendees. And last but not least, a panel on Empowering Women in the Afghan Economy.

Presentations will include a large, market-based, real estate development project for the "Kabul New City" initiative; taking Afghan gemstones-to-jewelry into international markets; bringing grapes, pomegranates and tree fruits to Middle Eastern markets; a major railroad-building project how U.S. government agencies  work with individual businesspeople and investors; game-changing efforts in information and communications technologies, women's economic opportunities, and more.

AACC Board of Directors will be giving its "8^th Annual Businessperson of the Year Award" to the businessman or woman who has made a substantial contribution to the private sector and market economy in Afghanistan. The Board also will award an Afghan entity its "3^rd Annual Award for Performance Excellence and Support for AACC" and a way to recognize Afghans who have made substantial contribution to the market economy and at the same time been highly supportive of AACC's work.

The Afghan-American Chamber of Commerce is the foremost non-governmental U.S. organization engaged in furthering business and development with 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