Afghanistan— Department of Commerce, Afghanistan and Iraq Reconstruction Task Force (AIRTF) Afghanistan Business Development Program

Client: U.S. Department of Commerce

Prime: Metis Corporation

Duration: 2012-2014

Region: Eastern Europe and Central Asia

Country: Afghanistan

Solutions: Economic Growth

 

U.S. Department of Commerce tasked the development of a comprehensive program to identify, train, and develop Afghan businesses across five different industry sectors. The goal of this project was to increase business and corporate capacity, develop key business and ministerial relationships in their respective sectors, improve human resource procedures, capital infusion, supply-chain management, and open new domestic and international markets to participant Afghan executives.

As a subcontractor for the Afghanistan Business Development Program, OXUS designed unique selection criteria to focus on companies in Afghanistan who were most likely to have an impact on the local economy. After selecting and vetting, OXUS facilitated expanding their business operations (in and outside of Afghanistan) and increasing employment both within their own business and within their value chains. This helped drive further job creation and “multiplier” effects in the local economy, culminating with increased economic activity and broadening political stability. OXUS provided 192 one-on-one counseling sessions, 300 business-to-business meetings, 16 structured training events, and led eight international study tours.

 

Sample Activities

  • Sourced, vetted, and selected 85 executives from Afghan-owned businesses.
  • Recruited international Technical and Subject Matter Experts.
  • Facilitated 20 full day group training sessions and 192 one-on-one counseling sessions.
  • Organized and successfully completed 8 international study tours resulting in over 300 business-to-business meetings.
  • Mentored and instructed the development of marketing material and formal business plans for all participants.

 

Select Results

  • Completed project within allotted time frame, while successfully circumventing constrained Afghan visa and travel processes.
  • Increased local Afghan employment through business development support.
  • Established mutually beneficial business relationships between participants and international suppliers.
  • Developed a local network of like-minded business partners to increase collaboration for future work.
  • Strategic Briefings were held with the U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan to highlight successful Commerce Department programs, such as the ABDP.
  • Coordinated and led networking events in each foreign country’s Afghan embassy to bolster each participant’s interaction with various Afghan ambassadors, commerce representatives, and local businesses.
  • Results included some participants obtaining contracts with foreign companies.
  • 20% of the ABDP participants were professional businesswomen.
  • Gained 85 Afghan business leaders as OXUS alumni whom attend quarterly receptions with donor organization representatives and Afghan ministry leadership.
  • Obtained high accolades and outstanding performance evaluation from the U.S, Commerce department, which aided OXUS to be awarded competitive DoD contracts.
  • Participants gained high-quality skills to manage their businesses using advanced western business standards.
  • Ramped-up star of contract performance within 14 days of award.