Building economic progress in Afghanistan

The meeting was attended by some 70 participants including specialists representing Afghanistan, the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), the European Commission DG External Relations, the International Monetary Fund, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe and the World Bank.

Discussions focused on assessing the economic impact of security in Afghanistan and considering changes in ISAF policy that would encourage greater Afghan economic development and reduce dependency. Participants further considered the role of the international community in economic reconstruction (with particular emphasis upon local purchasing and hiring) and establishing mechanisms to strengthen international economic coordination concerning measures to deepen and widen economic development and to improve its adaptation to local needs.

The meeting concluded with a series of recommendations regarding the assessment of ISAF’s economic footprint, the evaluation of Provincial Reconstruction Teams' experience and best practice regarding economic development and the possibility of setting recommended voluntary targets for local participation in procurement contracts.

The success of the meeting in bringing together key international actors as well as local actors, including from the private sector, in accordance with NATO’s contribution to the international community’s Comprehensive Approach was highlighted with the resolve to build upon this momentum to strengthen international coordination in achieving enduring progress in Afghanistan.