President Karzai invites CII to set up healthcare and skill building centers in Afghanistan

In an exclusive interaction with a group of CII CEOs , President Karzai called for Indian Investment in prominent sectors including Healthcare, Agri business, Telecom and Capacity Building.

He briefed the Indian investors on emerging business opportunities in Afghanistan and take advantage of the business friendly regime and investment climate.

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He highlighted that Agriculture is a priority sector in Afghanistan and provides basic means of livelihood in Afghanistan, generating 36% of the country's GDP and supporting 85% of the total population. He apprised the Indian Industry of international export potential for Afghan agricultural products and invited Indian companies to import dry fruits and fruits as India is a big market for Afghanistan. He also briefed members on the increased scope and collaboration in new farming techniques, setting food processing unit and agriculture machinery for improved agriculture produce in Afghanistan.

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Mr Rakesh Bharti Mittal, Chairman, CII Development Initiatives Council and Vice Chairman and Managing Director, Bharti Enterprises Ltd briefed on the developments in Telecom and Agricultural sector in India and highlighted the potential for collaboration in Agriculture sector especially in farming techniques and food processing between India and Afghanistan.

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In healthcare sector, President Karzai appreciated the developments in Indian healthcare sector and invited Indian Hospitals to set up facilities in Afghanistan. He said that the Afghan patients have to travel to India for medical treatment especially the cardiac patients. Mr Malvinder Mohan Singh, Chairman, CII Services Council and Executive Chairman, Fortis Healthcare briefed President Karzai on the various facilities being offered by the Indian hospitals and offered to set up similar facilities in Afghanistan, enhance capacity for Afghan doctors and talent building in Afghanistan in view of the shortage of trained doctors, practitioners and nurses in Afghanistan.

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Mr Chandrajit Banerjee, Director General, CII apprised President Karzai on CII initiatives in enhancing India - Afghanistan economic cooperation and future plans in promoting Indian Investment in Afghanistan through sending sectoral delegations, organising Investment promotion road shows in India and Capacity Building through Training the Trainer programmes for Skill Building. He also stressed on setting up of India - Afghanistan CEOs Forum for strengthening and promoting investment and trade relations.

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Dr Sudhir Kapur, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Country Strategy Business Consultant Pvt Ltd highlighted on the opportunities in Soft Skills and vocational training and building institutions specific to the need of Afghanistan.

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Other prominent persons who were present in the meeting included Dr Zalmai Rassoul, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Afghanistan; Mr Shaida M Abdali, Afghanistan Ambassador to India; Mr Gautam Mukhopadhaya, Indian Ambassador to Afghanistan, and other senior officials.