Fahim Azim/USAID
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Afghanistan Banks Association (ABA) today opened the Access to Finance (A2F) Exhibition in Kabul.
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Afghanistan Banks Association (ABA) today opened the Access to Finance (A2F) Exhibition. This two-day event connects banks and other financial institutions with enterprises looking for financing to expand their businesses. Minister of Finance Dr. Omar Zakhilwal, Minister of Commerce and Industry Dr. Anwar Ul Haq Ahadi, Governor of Da Afghanistan Bank Noorullah Delawari, Chairman of ABA Khalil Sediq, USAID Mission Director Dr. Ken Yamashita, and the executives of Afghanistan’s leading businesses participated at the opening ceremony.
“Greater access to finance will enable businesses to expand production, upgrade equipment, grow their businesses, and enhance job opportunities. The objective of the Access to Finance Exhibition is to encourage and improve the access to financial services in Afghanistan”, said Khalil Sediq, Chairman of ABA and CEO of Afghanistan International Bank in his opening remarks. Centered on the theme “Grow Your Business,” the event features more than 40 exhibition booths of banks, financial and lending institutions, insurance companies, telecommunications, and business support services. They are displaying their products and services to more than 1,500 invited business representatives from across the country. The visitors will be able to explore all available financial products in the market today and learn how to effectively access different loan and credit products.
“The U.S. Government is pleased that for the first time banks, micro-finance institutions, and mobile network operators have come together to demonstrate that Afghanistan is not only open for business but it is able to finance the future growth of that business,” said USAID Mission Director Dr. Yamashita.
USAID partners with the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and private sector organizations to generate economic growth and job creation by strengthening the financial sector and developing a legal framework and market infrastructure in which financial sector institutions and their business partners provide opportunities for economic prosperity of all Afghans.
Access to Finance Exhibition (English)
Access to Finance Exhibition (Dari)
Access to Finance Exhibition (Pashto)