The Ministry of Information and Culture (MOIC) hosted a “Conference on National Youth Policy” from August 7 through 9. A variety of governmental and nongovernmental organizations facilitated seven working groups with Afghan youth from 34 provinces to discuss issues of importance to the youth of Afghanistan and help the MOIC to develop policies to solve these issues.
USAID’s Trade and Accession Facilitation for Afghanistan assisted the MOIC to facilitate three working groups: Trade and Youth; Gender and Youth; and Security, Peace, Good Governance, and Youth. The working group on trade taught participants about international trade and how trade liberalization results in increased employment opportunities for youth. The participants also learned about important trade agreements, including the Southern Asia Free Trade Agreement (SAFTA) and the Afghanistan Pakistan Transit Trade Agreement (APTTA), and the benefits of these agreements to the Afghan people. Participants asked questions on a variety of subjects from the meaning of a free market and free transit to specific questions about Afghanistan’s trade with neighboring countries. Participants also received informational materials on trade in Dari, Pashto, and English.