AFGHAN NEWS CII’s Institution Development Programme for Afghan executives s part of its continuing efforts to strengthen the Afghan pri- vate sector, the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) in February organised an Institu- tionAA Development Programme for key mem- bers of leading Afghan chambers of commerce and industry associations. The programme –– conducted from February 3 to 17 in New Delhi with the support of the Center for International Private Enterprise (CIPE), a non-profit affiliate of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce –– was attended by 15 senior executives from Afghan industry bod- ies, including eight women. The team was led by Hamidullah Farooqi, CEO, Chamber of Commerce. The programme, which comprised 32 sub- ject-wise sessions, saw CII affiliates like the PHOTO ABOVE, Dilip Automotive Component Manufacturers Sinha, Joint Secretary in the Ministry of External Association of (ACMA), Society of Indian Affairs, centre, with Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM), Indian senior executives of Machine Tools Manufacturers (IMTMA), and leading Afghan chambers the Electronic Components Industries of commerce and Association (ELCINA) share their experiences industry associations, in with the Afghan team. New Delhi to attend a There were sessions on the Role and CII-sponsored Institution Functions of Chambers/Associations; Mem- Development Program. bership Promotion; International Trade and PHOTO RIGHT, the team with CII Director WTO; Regional Structure; Industry and Media General N. Srinivasan, Partnership; Total Quality Management (TQM); standing centre. Skills Development Initiatives; Human Resources Development; Small and Medium The team also visited SSP Ltd., a Faridabad- Dilip Sinha, Joint Secretary (, Enterprises (SMEs) as Drivers for Economic based SME engaged in the design and manu- Afghanistan and ), Ministry of External Development in India; Public Policy; Building facture of plant and machinery for the food Affairs, briefed the team on the support India Consensus at Political Levels; Industry processing, dairy and chemical sectors. provides Afghanistan, and future initiatives Involvement in Social Development-HIV/AIDs; such as a proposal for setting up an institution the Information Technology (IT) Sector in India; Programme Objectives for Skills Development. He also spoke on the Agriculture and Food Processing Industry; ● To focus on strengthening activities of Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) between Environment; Energy Management; Infrastruc- India and Afghanistan and bilateral trade. ture; and International Partnership Building. Chambers of Commerce and Industry The women members of the team visited a There were also sessions on Integrated Socio Associations by strategic planning, mem- project on ‘Empowering Women through Economic Development; Rural Development; bership development, skills promotion, etc. Information, Communication and Technology’ and also made a trip to Dilli Haat to learn more Women Empowerment; Enterprise Develop- ● ment; Agriculture Development and its Future To help identify the requirements of about marketing rural crafts and arts in the city. Prospects in Rural India; and the Role of industry from chambers/associations and The team also attended a special session Information and Communication Technology. how to fulfill those requirements. with CII Director General N. Srinivasan, who The EXIM Bank of India conducted a ses- assured the participants of CII’s commitment ● sion on Finance and Credit for International To hone the skills of consensus-building, to the economic development of Afghanistan. Trade and Investment, while computer educa- networking and partnership building. The CIPE, which supported the programme, tion major NIIT organised one titled ‘Hole in ● To help promote management skills, is one of the four core institutes of the National the Wall –– IT Application for Villages’. Endowment for Democracy. It has been work- It was, however, not all theory for the visit- SMEs, social development and regional ing in over 90 developing countries and aims ing Afghan team. For practical experience and cooperation. to build democracy through market-oriented to get a deeper insight into the Indian econo- reforms.CIPE’s Afghan unit was set up in ● To help serve industry by providing spe- my and trade, the team visited various compa- October 2003 and helped form the Afghan nies, expos and fairs, including the Tooltech cialised services. International Chambers of Commerce and the Exhibition and Surajkund Handicraft Mela. Afghan Women Business Federation. ■

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