10/15/2018
We had a very productive meeting with Trade Facilitation Organization (TFO) and it is an organization with 38 years of experience in the areas of trade and development. In the meantime I would like to add that, they promised to have cooperation in the following areas:
The first component, train-the-trainers, aims to establish an exporter training platform implemented through lead Business Support Institutions in Afghanistan with an emphasis on women-focused BSIs.
With this component, the lead and associated BSIs will develop their technical skills in the field of international trade (including cross-border and regional trade) and will be equipped with the capacity to deliver trade training and support services to exporters and potential exporters from various sectors in a manner that will help these firms grow their export activities and contribute to the sustainable economic development and poverty alleviation in the country. This will include capacity building for BSIs that will allow them to respond to the needs of women-led businesses in the international trade arena. It is TFO Canada’s intent to strengthen analysis and delivery capacity of BSIs.
The exporter training component of this project will build on TFO Canada’s longstanding experience in adapting and implementing exporter training programs within developing countries, with an emphasis placed on women-led SMEs. TFO Canada has effectively employed a “train-the-trainers” or ToT approach through which the capacity of local BSIs is strengthened so they in turn can deliver trade training to local exporters. The ToT activities will be based upon materials developed and delivered by TFO Canada in many parts of the world. In the delivery of this proposed trade ToT activity in Afghanistan, TFO Canada will draw from these curricula but will customize it to reflect products/services, logistics, regulations and institutions from the country. We also see this as an excellent opportunity to include TFO Canada’s Lead Exporter Program, whereby experienced exporting companies from Afghanistan share their knowledge.
The second component of the proposed initiative will be focused on preparing and strengthening the capabilities of Afghan SMEs with an emphasis on women-led companies and their products in order to equip them with the necessary tools and knowledge to export to foreign markets, notably Canada. This will also prepare SMEs to be more competitive, thus positioning them to take advantage of new export opportunities that could be generated.
For the ex*****on of this component, the lead BSIs will work with TFO Canada in the selection of priority export sectors and SMEs with export potential. BSIs and sector specialists will conduct a feasibility and market potential study to select export sectors with the most potential in the neighbouring targeted export countries as well as Canada. Following the selection of the priority sectors, BSIs and sector specialists will identify, assess and select specific SME exporters that have the potential to export their goods to the targeted countries. The SMEs selected will need to be able to present themselves and their products in international markets and conduct formal exports including order processing and logistical matters as well as marketing and establishment of relationships with distributors and resellers in foreign markets. These SMEs will take part in exporter training program, receive advisory support to help them select and adapt products from their current product line most appropriate for export to the targeted countries benefit from technical assistance to help them develop appropriate export price lists for their products.
Beneficiary of the project and sectors
The beneficiaries of the first component will be the technical trade support officers of lead BSIs as well as related BSIs in Afghanistan. The primary direct beneficiaries of the second component will be the SMEs in the identified sectors in targeted areas of Afghanistan. SMEs will include both women and men led businesses.
In addition at the end of this meeting both side agreed to continue their bilateral partnership and this is a good opportunities in order to develop our private sector specially small and medium enterprises (SMEs), therefore it has been reported to the relevant directorate of Ministry of Industries and Commerce.
