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0 3 / 0 1 0 ...... ,., ..
DOC
EXEC. SECRETARIAT
................................
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iöh4l1l3'" '17':
10/24/03
1177
-_.-___..-__. -10/24/03
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SEC8.TMY:~FCGMMEJlCE
THE SE~T&V~F;WMI+WJCE
SECRETA*Y
OF COMMERCE
WashlngtOn, D.C.
O.C. 20230
20230
Wshlngton.
20230 Washlngton,
D.C.
r"i' ".-h"79/
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Oetober
October
2003
October 24,
24,2003
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MEMORANDUM
MEMOP%AN]DtJM
FOR THE
THE PP'RF)rtQl~'7
MEMORANDUMFOR
P
FroOl:
From:
From.:
DonaldL.
Donald L. Ev
Sllbject:
Subject:
Subject:
Recent
Visit to
Iraq, and Kabul,
Kabul, Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Recent Visit
to Bagbdad,
Baghdad, Iraq,
It
tQ you about my recent visit to
lt is
is with great enthusiasm
enthusiasm that
that I1I write
write to
to Baghdad,
Baghdad,
Iraq,
and
Kahu1,
Afghanistan,
from
October
13-16.
Tbe
purpose
ofmy
trip
was
asscss
Afghanistan, &om
from October 13-16. The
of my
my trip was to assess
Iraq, and Kabul, Afghanistan,
The puzpose of
the
status of
of their
as weIl
the reconstruction
reconstruction efforts
efforts in those
those countries, .as
,as
well as
as to evaluate
evaluate the status
their
commercial
commercial climates.
II am p1eased
to report
that there is tremendous
made in
pleased to
report tbat
tremendow progress being made
in Iraq
Iraq and
and
Afghanistan.
It is
is
c1ear
freedom.
is clear
clear that
that their
their citizens have tasted
is
Afghanistan. It
tasted the
the power
power of
of fkeedom.
freedom. It is
transfonning
unl'eashing
of entrepreneurship.
transforming their lives,
lives, and they are unleashing
unleashing the spirit
spirit of
entrepreneurship.
transforming
.
Despite
OUf
Despite tbe
the terrorists' attempts
attempts to derail our
our efforts, Iraq
Yraq and Afghanistan are
making great progress
progress towards
towardssucceeding
succeeding in their goats
becoming
becoming free,
ftee, peaceful,
and
making
goals of
ofbecoming
peaceful, and
countries. Although
Althoughthe
situation in
in both countries
countries
remains serious,
serious, aa
prosperous
Although
the security
security situation
countri~s remains
prosperous countries.
is being
being built.
built. In
stable trade
trade and
and investment foundation
foundation is
h addition
addition to
seeing the
theinimediate
immediate
stable
10 seeing
immediate
benefits ofincreasing
ooff increasing
higher
standards
benefuts
increasingemployment
employment and
andbigber
higherstandards
standardsof
of living,
living,the
the Iraqis
Iraqis and
and Afghans
Afghans
benefits
recognize, as
as we do,
their own cconomic
cconomic security w
i11 lead to greater
greater national
national and
and
do, that their
will
recognize,
global security.
security.
global
During the
the two
two days
days Deputy
SecretarySam
andX
n Baghdad,
e
spent i
in
Baghdad, w
we
Deputy Secretary
Secretary
Sam Bodnian
Bodman and
r1spent
in
During
the opportunity
opportunity to
to see
see and hear
hear flTIltband
f m k d the remarkable transition f
rom the
the
isolation
had the
firsthand
from
bad
tbe isolation
Hussein's dictatorship
dictatorshipto an
an emerging market-based
market-bascd economy and
of Saddam Hussein's
ofSaddam
representative government.
government.
representative
Coalition Pcovisional
Provisional Authority
Ambassador Bremer and the Coalition
Authority officials
officials are
Ambassador
diligently warking
working with
with the
the Traqi
Governing
improve the
the
working
Governing Council
Council and Iraqi people to improve
diligently
Iraqi Goveming
conditions in
in Itaq
Iraq that
thatwill
will encourage
encouragecapital
capitalinvestment
investmentand
andcommerce.
commerce. Ambassador
Iraq
encourage
Ambassador
conditions
informed us
the vast irnprovements
improvements
economic,and
and military
military
us of
of the
improvements in the poIitical,
Bremer informed
political, economic,
Iraq,
commended
fine job
job he
overseeing these
situations in lraq,
Iraq, and he is
is to be comrnended
commended for the fine
situations
be is doing overseeing
efforts.
efforts.
met with
with members
members ofthe
the Goveming
Governing Council,
Council, Iraqi
Iraqi Ministers,
Ministers, and
and Baghdad
Baghdad
ofthe
Governing
Council,
We met
members
We
City Council
Council members,
members, and
and a11
all were
were unanimous
unanimous
unanimous in
iin
n their
their appreciation
appreciation
appreciation for
for the
the support
support of
of
City
American people.
jobs, improved
the Ameriean
people. They
Theyare
are eager
provide their
fellow citizens
citizens with
with
jobs,
improved
the
Theyare
eager to
to provide
provide
their fellow
wirhjobs,
and aaa quality
qualityeducation.
education. Wben
When II asked several
of the
the Iraqi
Iraqi leaders
leaders if
if they
they
health care,
care, and
education.
several ofthe
of
health
Iraqi
ifth.ey
security, they
they said,
"We have
have our
our eyes
eyes on
on the
the destination,"
destination," i.e., a
were concerned
concerned about
about security,
said, 'We
were
destination:'
free,
free, seeure,
secure, prosperous
prosperous Iraq.
Traq.
free,
33
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We also
the opportunity
oppo.rtunity
also had thè
oppo-rtunityto visit with members ofthe
of the Iraqi
Iraqi and American
Amencan
business communities.
communities Fròm
Fromsite
site
visits,business
and aa lunch
communities.
sitevisits,
businessroundtables,
roundtables, and
lunch with
with women
entrepreneurs, we learned
of encouraging
encouraging progress
progress on
on the
the commercial
commercial environment.
environment. 1bis
This
leamed of
environment.
largely
CPA
were
govem
trade,
progress
is
largely
due
to
the
CPA
Orders
that
recently
issued
to
govern
the
trade,
progress
due to the
recently issued govern the d e ,
banldng,
banking, and
Access
to credit
credit was listed as
one of
ofthe
baaking,
and tax systems.
systems. Access
Accessto
as one
of the
the primary
primary hurdles for
Iraqi companies,
as tbe
need for
for foreign
foreigninvestment.
investment. On the latter point, I1will be
b
companies, as
as weH
well as
the need
foreign
region to look at ways ofmobilizing
directing our commercial
the region
commercial officers
officersin the
of mobilizing investment
.
ioto
flows
flowsinto
into Iraq.
Iraq.
At Baghdad University, we visited with students
12
students and faculty who for the
the past 12
years have been forced to function
in aa closed
closed society
societyin
in which
which they
they were
were deprived
deprivedof
of
function in
necessary computers, free
access to
to the
the Internet,
Internet, and
and academic
academicjournals.
journals. Now, the
joumals.
ftee access
Internet,
academic
windows of
the good people
ofthe
aß of
ofthe
oflraq
of the
the world are
are being opened to tbe
the students
students and all
people of
of Iraq
as
pursue their
dreams.
tbeir
as they pursue
dreams.
,
On October
in thc
the unveiling
unveiling ofIraq's
of Iraq’s
Iraq's new currency,
cuirency, which will
participated in
unveiling
October 15, I participated
of
currency,
counterfeiting. Within
help to stabilize
banking system,
facilitate
trade. and combat counterfeiting.
Within
stabilize the
the banking
system, facìlitat
facilitate trade,
three months, the former
former multiple
multiple currencies
currencies will be fully
filly converted,
converted, enabling
enabling all
all of
of the
the
fonner
c~ITencies
ofthe
Iraqi people
people to use aa single,
single, stable
stable currency
c k e n c y that is free oftbe
of the face
face of
Qfthe
the former
formerregime. .
stahle
cunency
Qfthe
Iraqi
Throughout
Throughout Baghdad, the signs
signs cf
of change
change are
are abundant.
abundant. Thousands
flnousands of
of private
private
ofprivate
formed,
including
led
Iraqi businesses
have formOO)
formed, including
includingmany
many]00
ledby
byIraqi
Iraqibusinesswomen.
businesswomen. Cbildren
Children
Iraqi
businesses have
have
fact, while
while driving
throughthe
the streets of
bave
entrepreneurialspirit.
spirit In
have even caught the entrepreneurial
In fact,
fact,
driving through
of
Baghdad, I stopped our vehicle
vehicle to buy eokes
Cokes from
f
rom some
some young boys who had set up a
from
Baghdad.
C<lemonade
stand."
"lemonade stancL"
“lemonade
stand”
commerce isis flowing.
flowing.
immuniZtd.
So commerce
flowing. Children
Children are
arebeing
beingimmunized.
immunized Roads,
So
Roads, bridges, ports,
infrastructure are
repaired
Schools bave
have
And for tbe
the first
are being
beingrepaired.
repaired. Schools
have reopened.
reopened. And
and energy infrastructure
freedomoftbe
ofthe
thepress.
press. There are
in decades,
decades, Iraqis
Iraqis are experiencing
experiencing freedom
fkdorn
of
are now 130
130
time in.
OO across
newspapers
newspapers in Baghdad and reportedly
reportedly 800
across Iraq.
experiencing similar
similar success.
success. There, III witnessed a people who are
Afghanistan is experiencing
enjoying freedom
freedom from
from the
repressive Taliban
Talibanregime.
reghe.
enjoying
the repressive
Taliban
regime.
Four
(all boys)
boys) in
in the
the Afgban
Mgban school
aga there
thece were 800.000
tbe
Afghan
Four years ago
800,000 students
students (all
system. Today,
Today,
there are
are 4.5
4.5 million
million students
1.5 million
Today,there
students - 1.5
million who are
are girls
girls - embracing
their ability
and to
to live
live in
country of
ofhope
hope and
and equality.
equality. I had
ability to pursue an education
education and
to
iin
n aaa country
equality.
the chance to visit the all-girls school that Zahira Zahir attended.
attended during
attended
during her
her youth
youth in
Kabul. Students
KabuI.
Students
andteachers
teachers
alik.e
Studentsand
teachersalike
alikewere
were elated
elated to receive
receive supplies
supplies we
we donated
donated to their
school. It
It is
is especially
especially
rewarding
schooL
women, previously denied
especiallyrewarding
rewarding to see that young girls
girls and wornen,
women,
an education
roJe, are now regularly attending
classrooms.
education under Taliban
Taliban rule,
attending school
school in
in classrooms.
classrooms.
-
44
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10/24/03
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U.S.
During roundtable discussions
discussions on the investment climate, U.S.
U
.S.and Afghan
Afghan
businesspeople detailed
in Afghanistan’s
Afghanistan's
Afghanistan's
detailed what their
their challenges
challenges and successes
successes have been in
emerging economy.
eeonomy. In
Inaddition
addition
recentlyenacted
investmentand
andbanking
bankingJaws,
laws, several
sevenl
additiontotorecently
recentlyenacted
enactedinvestment
several
projects
private-sector growth, such
projects are being planned to encourage
encourage private-seetor
private-sector
such as
as the development
of
of market
industrial parks.
market centers
centers and
and industrial
parks.
The
Minister of
ofCommerce
Commerce and
and 1I discussed
OUT commercial
as
The Afghan
Afghan Minister
discussed our
commercial progress,
progress, as
as
weIl as the
OUT
well
the additional
additional ways we can
can expand
expand the
the trade and
and investment
investment climate
climate between
between our
our
countries. There
There
are
encouraging sigus
signs_
Forexample,
example,the
theMinistry
Ministry
hasregistered
registered
6,000
Thcreare
areencouraging
signs.For
Ministryhas
registered6,000
6,000
and has
bas grauted
over 8,000
S,000new
newbusiness
businesslicenses.
licenses. Dur
Our
U.S-Afghan
investment projects
projects and
granted over
8,000
licenses.
O
ur U.S-Afghan
Comrnercial
orking Oroup
Commercial W
Working
Group has served
served as an excellent forum
forum for
for information sharing
sharing
and
technical assistance
&nd for
tecbnical
on building
capacities
foT,
private seetor
for technical
assistanceon
building capacities
capacitiesfoi:
for.private
sector expansion.
One ofthe
of the highlights of our trip
U.S. troops in
trip was visiting with OUT
our U.S.
in both
ofmissing
countries.
countries. They
Theyspeak
speakof
of
missingtheir
theirfamilies,
families,but
butalso
alsoof
ofthe
thehonor
honorto
to be
beserving
servingin
inthis
this
mission to defend
America, combat terrorism,
of
historie mission
terrorism, and assist in the
tbe rebuilding
rebuilding of
historic
defend America,
countries_
these
these countries.
opportunity to see with my own eyes and hear with my own ears the
I had the opportunity
good
good people of
Iraq and Afghanistan,
Afghanistan, and to clearly
clearly understand how much they
ofIraq
appreciate America, the
the Coalition, and
and their
their freedom.
freedom. As I rode though
freedom.
through the streets of
Baghdad, I saw faces of
hope
waving
in
appreciation
and
gìving
in appreciation
giving us the two thumbs
ofhope
tbumbs up.
I salute your bold leadership
leadership in these important efforts, and I look forward to
fiuther supporting
supporting your goal to expand peace, freedom,
f+eedom,and prospcnty
q and
and
further
prosperity in h
Iraq
Afghanistan,
a
nd,indeed,
indeed,
theworld.
world
Afghanistan,and,
and,
indeed, the
world.
Afghuiitan,
Attachments
Attaclnnents
Attachments
5
5
.
..............................
i{···'· .10/24/03
i: 0öi'f4i(i3'
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,· t006/010
'~'ö'06iö'iö'''''''''''''
DOC EXEC.
EXEC.
SECRETAFtIAT
@
OO6/010
I
DOC
ce:
cc:
cc:
TheVice
Vice President
President .
The
thc President
Condoleezza Rice
Assistant
Assistant to
to the
the
Presidentfor
for National
National Security
SecurityAffairs
Affairs Condoleezza
Condoleemi
Rice
U
.S.Trade
Trade Representative
RepresentativeRobert
Robert Zoellick
U.S.
U.S.
Zoellick
ofAgriculture
M. Veneman
Secretarycf
of
AgricultureAnn
Ann M.
M.
Veneman
Secretary
ofDefense
Donald
H.
Rumsfeld
Secretary
of Defense
Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld
Secretary of
ofEducation
Secretary
Education
Secretary of
of
Education Roderick
Roderick R.
R Paige
Paige
ofEnergy
Secretary
Energy
Secretary of
of
Energy Spencer
SpencerAbraham
Abraham
ofHealth
Semces Tommy G
Secretary
G.. Thompson
Thompson
Secretary of
Health and
and Human
Human Services
ofHomeland
Homeland
Security Tom
Tom Ridge
Ridge
Secretary of
Homeland Secuiity
of Housing and Urban Development
Mel R. Martinez
Secretary of
Development Me1
ofthe
InteriorGale
Secretary of
the
Gale A. Norton
Secretary
the Interior
Interior
Gale
Norton
Attomey General John Ashcroft
Attorney
Secretary of
of Labor Elaine
Elaine.L.
Chow
Secretary
Elaine
L.Chow
L.
Secretary of
of State
State Colin
Colin L.
L.Powell
Powell
Secretary
Mineta.
ofTransportation
Norman Y.
Secretary of
Transportation
Y. Mineta
W
e b
Secretary
Transportation Norman
Secretary of
ofthe'Treasury
Secretary
the Treasury John W. Snow
SecretaIy of
ofVeterans
Pr~cipi
Secretary
Veterans Affairs Anthony J.
J. Prhcipi
Principi
,
’
666
...........................................................................................
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MEETING ffiGHLIGHTS
MEETJNG
WGRLIGUTS
BAGEDAD, lRAQ
IRAQ
BAGHDAD,
UNIVERSrrx
BAGHDAD
UNIVERSITY
BAGHDAD
U
m ~ s
.
•
•
a•
.
•
m
a
Students
members are hardworking
liaxdworldngand
andoptimistic
optimisticfor
forthe
thefuture
futurefaeulty members
-- dedicated to llearning.
leaming.
Students and faculty
h g .
of communication with
with the
the
witb
tbe
Under the Hussein regime, students suffered from a fundamental lack of
conununity, with
modem
technology,
controUed
global conlmunity,
community,
with limited access to
to modern
modern information
information technology,
technology, and
and tightly
tightly controlled
controlled
Internet access.
aecess.
bitemet
access.
Internet
Profussors
were
had
Professors (many of
ofwhom
educated in
in the United
nothad
access to
Professors
whom w
ere educated
United States)
States) have
have not
not
had accesè
access
to academic
academic
journals in
journals
journals
in their
their fields
fields for
€or several
several years.
Faculty
particular recognize that they require outside assistance in order to successfully
Faculty members in partieular
transfonn
the
University.
transform
transform
University.
DISTlUBUTION
W AREHOUSE
FOOD DISTWBUTION
DISTP1CTION WAREHOUSE,
WAREHOUSE_
.
•
..
1
M
m
..
Iraqi population is dependent
Oil for Food Program
Program (OFFP).
(OFFP).
dependent upon the Oil
Transitioning from
packaging, and
!rom OFFP and
loeal systems
for producing,,
producing,.packaiing,
Transitioning
from
and developing
developing local
local
systems necessary
necessary for
for
producing,.packaghg,
feod represents
cballenge.
dclivcring food
represents a major
dcIivcxing
major challenge.
challenge
Iraq that providc
providc food
food for
for 27
27 million
million Iraqis
Iraqis each
each day:
day
distribution centers
eenters across
aerass Iraq
There are 40 food distribution
VISIT TO
TO AL-MITHALY
AL-MITRALY COMPUTER
COMPUTER STORE
STORE
VISIT
COMP.UTER
STQRE
ViSIT
AL-MITRALY
.
•
.
.
•
•
Despite decades
oppression that
decades of
oppression
that stifled
stifled economic
economic
activity,
thespirit
spiritof
of
entrepreneurssp
taking
ofoppression
ecohomic activity,
activity, the
ofentrepreneurship
entreprenemsbipisistaking
Iraq. Thousands
ofbusinesses
opened up
thc reconstruction
rcconstruction began.
businesses
root in Iraq.
Thousandsof
of
businesseshave
haveopened
opened
upsince
sincethe
the
tcconstruction
began.
dishes, fax
fu. machines,
macbines, copy machines,
earried U.S.
U.S.
machines, and
and computers. Carried
Busy stores selling satellite dishes,
Carried
U
.S.
Hew]ett·Packard.
brands, including
including Hewlett-Packard.
Hewlett-Packard.
SOme items
items being
being stored
sidewalks.
with some
Inventory was vast, with
some
item
being
stored on
onthe
the sidewalks.
sidewalks.
IRAQI
ROIDi'DTABLE
Iruor
BUSINESS
ROUNDTABLE
ttAOI BUSINESS
flOUNDTABLE
•
•=
..
•
.
•
•
'
Jraq has a cadre of
ofinnovative,
well-educated. competent entrepreneurs who
Iraq
innovative, relatively well-educated,
who are
are already
already
Iraq
innovative,
tbeir
sma11 businesses.
building up their
small
building
their small
was
The
The meeting
meeting w
as held at the Business
Business Assistance Center in Baghdad, aa facility
facility operated by
by CPA
CPA and
and
USO
oflicials.
USG
USG officials.
officials.
.
tocredit.
credit.
the most
most challenging
challenging
obstacle
to business
development
aecess
Entrepreneurs report
report the
challengkgobstacle
obstacleto
businessdevelopment
developmentisisaccess
accessto
credit.
Entrepreneurs
banks
will
change
or
will
not
survive.
Likely
that
statc-run
need
to
drastically
Likely
banks
nccd to
Survive.
of small/medium-sized
sI!lalVmedium-sized
Opportwüties
establishment and
Opportunities exist for the
the establishment
and mergers
mergers of
smalllmdium-sizedbanks.
banks.
Opportunities
wlU.S.
wIlLS. BUSINESSES
MEETING W/U.S.
BUSINESSES
.
•
.
•
•
•
good news
neM to report
report. Significant
Significantprogress
terms of
There iiss good
Significant
progressisis being
being made
made in
in terms
terms
of getting
getting basic
basic services up
aad running,
running, including
inc1uding water
electricity.
and
including
water and
and electricity.
electricity.
!here
comprehensive
plan for
for
seeurlty.
There remains
There
remains a critical
critical need
need for
for comprehensive
comprehensive plan
plan
forsecurity.
security.
Iraq's infrastructure
is
generally in
in aa state
SUlte
ofdisrepair
of neglect
negJect and lack
Iraq's
infrastructure
Iraq's
inhstructurcis
is generally
stateof
of disrepair
disrepair and
and decline
decline due
due to
to decades
decades of
lack
of
regime.
For
example,
the
sewage
from
Baghdad
goes
directly
of upgrades during the Hussein
regime.
For
example,
the
sewage
from
Baghdad
goes
Hussein
example,
from
goes directly
directly into
into
Tigris
Rivcr, which
the drinking
drinking
water downstream.
downstream.
Tigris River,
which becomes
becomes the
drinkingwater
downstream.
Work ethics
resourcefulness of
ofthe
Irnqi
warkers are
are among
among
the best
in the
the
world
ethics and resouccefulness
resourcellness
of the
the Iraqi
Iraqi workers
workers
amongthe
bestin
&e world.
7
7
I
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DOC EXEC.
EXEC. SECRETARIAT
SECRETARIAT
DOC
LUNCH
wlWOMEN
ENTREPRENEURS:
LWNCHWIWOMEN
WMOMIENENTREPRENEURS:
ENTREPRENEURS:
LUNCH
.
•
•
•
•=
@
01
I
seetion
of businesses
and involvement
in
The women at the lunch
lunch represented aatme
true cross section
section of
businesses and
&d
involvementin
i
nthe
the
The
life.
economic
economiclife.
life.
economic
Theu;from
hornecrafts
crafts to
to construction
construction companies.
companies.
Their business
business focus
focus ranged from
From home
home
crafts
Their
Many
of
them
expressed
interest
in
either
distributing
U.S.
products
or franchising.
franchising.
ciistributing US.products or
distributing
Many of them
Inquired
as to whether the
fheUnited States will be interested
interested in
in them
them as
as partners
partnersthroughout
throughoutthe
theyears
yearsto
to
Inquired as
come.
Expresscd
women's
organ\zations and interested
international women's
organizations
interested in
in other
other worldwide
worldwide
Expresscd interest
intcrest injQmmg
Expressed
in jpining
joining international
women's organizations
organizations they
they might
might profit
profitfrom.
from.
from.
organizations
1
.
MEETING
WIBAGHDAD
CITY
COUNCIT.
MEETING
W~%AC;FTDAD
CITYCOUNCIL
Comm
MEETING
W!BAGRDAD
CITY
I
•
•
9
•
Elected government officials
primarily conccmcd
of services to
constitucnts officials primarily
t its
its constituents
constituents
concerned with the provision of
trash collection, water,
watet,
conditioDS.
water, road
road
conditions.
conditions.
road
Also
on creating
creatingjobs
and improving
opportuniticsfor
Baghdad..
Also focused
focused on
creatingjobs
improving opportunities
opportunirics
forbusinesspeople
businesspeopleininBaghdaAt
Baghdad
jobs and
Also
COWlcil
evening
Council was approached
approached by the Baghdad Restaurant
Association with
with aaarequest
requestto
toextend
cxtendthe
theevening
evenhg
Council
Restaurant Association
request
cud'ew
extended. showing
curfew in Baghdad so
so that
citizens could
Curfcw was
was extended,
extended,
showing signs
signs
curfew
that citizens
could patronize
patronize restaurants.
restaurants. Curfew
ofincreased
stab~lity.
of increased
kcrased stability.
stability.
of
M~SIERTALMEETINGS
MINISTERIAL
MEETINGS
Minister
Tawfiq
MLnister of Industry
& Mines
Mines Mubammad
Muhammad
Industry &
Muhammad Tawiiq
Tav1lq Rahim
Rahiin
Praised the
the United
United States
States for
far giving
giving Iraqis
Iraqis freedom
fieedom from
Hussein's
bruta!
regime.
• Praised
~ving
Hussein's brutal
brutal regirne
from Hussein's
Approximately50 percent unemploymcnt
unemployment in
iinn I:raq
Iraq
11
Approximate1y
I
Approximately
Iraq now.
now.
ofworlcforce
workforce is
is
sector.
• 10-15
ofworkforce
10-15 percent of
is in
in public
public sector.
private sector.
sector
11N •' Need
entexprises ttoo the private
Need to procce<!
procced
cautiously in transforming
transforming publicly owned
owned enterprises
proceed cautiously
..
.
. Minister
Bahr
Al-Uloum
Minister of on
Oil Dr.
B a k Al-Uloum
AI-Wloum
Dr. lbrahim
ibrahim Bahr
damaged and
• Repairing
poody
infrastructute.
Repairing damaged
and very poorly
poorly maintained energy
energy inhtruchue.
infrastructure.
of production
the
six months.
months.
million barrels per day (bpd) ofproduction
production and expecting 2.5 bpd in the
• 2 million
tbe next
next six
months.
technical assistance
assistance and comprehensive
wmprehensive plm
Need
plan for
fot security.
Need technical
-
Deputy Minister
Minister of'I'rade
D
r.Rashan
Deputy
of Trade
Trade nr.
Dr.
hctioned as
as the primary
primary
11
Ministry
manmactured
Ministry functioned
pzimary distributor
distributor of
of food
food and some mandkctured
manufactured goods.
Ministry continues to
several
to operate
operaie sevcral
several State
State Owned
OwnedEnterprises
Enterprises(SOEs),
(SOEs), including
including ground-shipping
ground-shipping
(80&),
• Ministry
companies
and
fobd
processing
plants.
companies
food
The CPA
is now working toward transferring
the food
distribution functions
functions
to the
the private
pprivate
~ v a tsector.
sector.
e
CPA is
food distribution
Tbe
transferring 1he
fUnctioDS to
.
-
11
CURRENCY
RELEASE
CURRENCY
ÇJJßENCY RELEASE
•
11
•
•i
•=
Visited tbe
the central
centraihub
hubwbere
wherethe
theCFA
CPAstores,
stores,secures,
secure; and
and distributes
distributesthe
the new
new Iraqi
Iraqi dinar
dinarto
tohighlight
highlight
the
where
CPA
Visited
stores,
secures,
significance ofthis
of this giant stride toward economic freedom.
fieedom.
the signific:ance
significance
towards
prosperous
of cunency
currency unveiling: "One currency
currency for
for one
one people
pcoplc
owards a prosperous
Theme of
peoplc - a major step t
Iraq."
Iraq."
will provide
provide 8
a single,
single, sccurc,
secure, and
and stable
stable currency
currencyfor
forthe
theIraqi
Iraqi people
people and
and set
set the
the
The new
n e w currency
currency will
single,
$.
sccure,
stahle
stage
for econornic
economic recovery.
recovery.
stage far
recovery.
stage
exchange old
old dinars'
dinars for
for the
the new
new
to exchange
There are
250 sites
sites where
where Iraqis citizens
citizens are
are approximately
approximately 250
There
whe\"e
ate able
ahle to
the currency.
currency. The exchange
exchang sites
Rafidain
well as
as the
the
currency.
exchange
includebranches
branchcs
of
Rafidain and Rasheed Banks,
thc
sitesinclude
brancbcs of
ofRafidain
Banks, as well
Ccntral
of Iraq.
Central Bank
Bank ofIraq.
Iraq.
Ccntral
Iraqi economy.
in the
the Eraqi
The new
new currency
currency will
will further
further strcngthcn
strengthen confidence
confidence in
The
new
currency
slrcngtbcn
The
eeonomy.
8
88
.................................
...
,... ", 'iöi"2"4"iÖ3"
"1";
10/24/03
17
10/24/03 17
-- -_.
-_.
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................
.................................................................
..........
·,"",·,·,·
SE'CRETÄiüÄT·"'·'····,,··,",·,',·,,··,····,',·....
··la\·O'09/0Tö'
lOO9/01O
~
0 0 0 / 0 1 0.. '··,"',·,
DOC
EXEC. SECRETARIAT
DOC EIEe':"
EXEC.
SECRETARIAT
_.. 'ööc"
KABUL, AFGHANISTAN
ZARGHONASCHOOLTOUR
ZARGRONA
ZARGHONA SCHOOL TOUR
•
•
•
Thc
delegation
Thc studcnts
studcnts and
tcachers
elated to
receive school
school supplies
The
students
and tcachers
teachers were e1ated
to reeeive
supplies from
from the
the delegation
delegation and to
to interact
interact
with
with U.S.
U.S.Govemment
Government
Government officials.
officials.
UNICEF
huildings
in desperate
ofrepair.
UNICEF tents
tents and damaged
damaged buildings
buildingsarc
arc in
desperate need of
of repair.
repair.
Tbe
ofZahira
books,
penells,
TheFriends
Friends of
of Zahira
Zahira 's's SchooJ
has raised
raised funds
funds to
purchase
The
School hllS
to purebase
purchase books,
books, chairs,
chairs, pencils,
pencils, and educational
electrical
supplies
supplies and to
to refurbish
refurbish the building's
building's
building's electrical
elcctrical and plumbing systems.
LUNCH
WffrtOOPS
LuNcH W/TROOPS
•9
•
Expressed theuwar
on terror.
terror.
their support
US.-led war
support for
for the
the U~S.-led
US-led
waron
terror.
Honored
people who for
for the
the ffirst
first
time were
were experiencing aa world
Honored to
to provide
provide freedom
fieedom to a country ofpeople-who
of people
irst time
relieved
from
oppression.
relieved from
fiomoppression..
oppression
MEETING wlU.S.
AN»
W/U.S.
ANDAFGHAN-~lUCAN
AFGHAN-AMERICAN
BUSINESSES
WIlLS. ANT)
AFGHAN-AMR1CAN BUSINESSES
BUSINEssES
.
•
•
•
Engagiog
Afghan-American business
business
Engaging
Engaging the Afghan-American
business community to
to help
helprebuild
rebuild its
itshomeland
home'and is critical to
to the
future
future of Afghanistan.
future
Afghanistan.
T'he Commerce
Gmmerce Department's
AfghanistanReconstruction
Reconstruction Task
Task Force
Force has
has provided
information on
on
Tbe
Afghanistan
Reconsttuction
provided information
The
Department's Afghanistan
efTorts,
roundtab1es
participating
participating in the reconstruction efforts,
efforts,and has
has hosted sevcral
sseveral
e v d roundtables
roundtables with the AfghanAmerican business
business community
communitythroughout
throughoutthe
thcUnited
States.
American
cornmunity
tbroughout
the
Unitcd States.
States.
coordinates eloscly
eloscly with
with the
the Ministry
Ministry of
of Commerce
Commerce on
on all
all aspects
aspects of
of
The Cornmerce
Commerce Department
Department coordinates
codrdinatcs
closcly
Tbe
al1
economic devclopment
dwclopment
development and
and export
cxport promotion.
promotion. Discussions
focused on
on ways for
for Afghanistan
Afghanistan to
to
economic
Discussions focused
attract investment and
sector opportunities.
and develop
develop private
private sector
opportUnities.
BILATERAL
MEETINGWICOMMtRCE
W/COMMERCEMINJSTER
MINlsTERSAYED
S A k D MUSTAFA
MUSTAFA
B]IATERAL MEETING
KAZEMI
BlLATERAL
W/COMMERCE
MINISTER
SAYED
MUSTAFA KA7XM
KA7..EMI
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
The
of Commcree
Commerce
significant
the commercial
The Afghan Ministry
Ministry of
Comrncrce has
has made
made signific8Ilt
significantprogress to improve the
Tbe
tnvironmcntin Afghanistan.
Afghanistan.
environment
The
Ministry's
The Ministry's
Minishy's High
HighCcumriission
on Investment
lnvestment registered over
6,000 investment
investmentprojects
projects(worth
(worth
Tbe
High
Commission on
over 6,000
$4.5 billion)
bi]lìon) and granted
within the
about $4.5
granted 8,000
8,000 new
new business
business licenses within
the
last year.
ycar.
about
tbe last
Trade agreements
Iran and Jndia
and aa transit
transit agreement
agreement was
was signed
signed with kan
to
Tradc
agreements were
were signed
signed with
with Iran
India and
Tradc
Iran to
10
facilitate
access for
for Afghan
Afghan goods
goods through han's
Iran's commercial port. Afghmiistan
preferential
facilitate access
facilitate
Afghanistan received
received preferential
trade arrangements
arrangementsfrom
fiomthe
States,EU,
Czech Republic,
Republic,
and1ndia
Jndia
trade
D'llde
from
the United
United States,
States,
EU, Japan,
Japan, Czech
Czecb
Republic. and
Jndia.
members as well
Afghanistan's
Regional agreements
agrccrnents were
were signed
signed with
with Economic Commission mcmbers
Regional
weIl as Mghmistan's
Mgbanistan's
contiguous neighbors.
contiguous
The foreign
banking law passed in September
September paving the
foreign banking
the way
way for
for licenses
licenses to
to be
be issued
issued to three
three foreign
The
banks (UK,
(UK, Pakistan,
(VK,
Pakistan, Aga
Aga Khan
Khan Foundation).
Foundation).
banks
New customs
customs forms
forms and
and tax
tax codes
cades will
be available
availablcsoon.
soon.
New
will be
be
available
soon.
expressed tbe
to engage
more US.
U.S.
businesses in Afghanistau,
as
The Ministry
Ministry expressed
expressed
the need for
for aa mechanism
mechanism to
engage more
The
U
.S. businesses
Afghanistan, as
well as
as funding
fbnding for
for SMEs
SMEsand
and funding
funding for
weil
fot
for export
export promotion.
promotion.
.
U.S--Afghan
Working Group
agreed to
to meet
meetperiodically
periodically to
to discuss
discuss means
means for
for
Thc U.S.-Afghan
U.$.-Afghan Commercial
Commercial Working
Workidg
Group agreed
agreed
Tbc
enhancing bilateral
assisling
in its
its economic
bilateral comrnercial
commercial relations and assisting
a
s s f i g Afghanistan in
enhanclng
economic development
goals.
goals.
.
Concerns
-Concerns rernain
remain
remain on
on issues
issues such
such as
as standards and quality contral.
control.
control.
·Concems
I
i
i
i
I
I
,
99
I
.
................................
iö/2'4/c)tJ'"
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17
10/24/03
17
. , 00 •• • • • •
--..
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'ööc"
EXEC':"
sE·ciiliTAiÜÄ'i'·'·,·,,····,···,,·,,·,
DOC EXEC.
EXEC. SECRETARIAT
SECRETARIAT
DOC
0 . ' . ' •• ' " "
. ..........................
.. .......'1ifö'iöltifö'··'
00 , •• ' . ' " , • • • • , . " . ,
iJ01O/010
~ O l O / O l O
AFGHAN BUSINESS
BUSINESS ROUNDTABLE
ROUNDTABLE
AFGHAN
AFGHAN
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Development
Development
Development of
ofthe
of the
the Afghan private scctor
sector is
is critical
critical to Afghanistan's
Afghanistan's development
tlevelopment
development efforts.
The
Theentrepreneurial
audwell
M&anistan.
The
entrepreneurial spirit
spiritisis alive
alive and
and
well in
in Afghanistan.
Afghanistan.
Concerns remain
Concems
on issues
issues
such as security,
access
to the
States, and
and basic
basic
Concerns
remainon
issues such
security, standards,
standards, market
market access
access to
the Unîted
UnitedStates,
basic
illfrastructure
infrastructure
necessities(Le.,
(l:e.,
(k,
water, sewagc,
scwagc,
comtmications, roads,
lOads,
roads, etc.)
etc.)
infrastructure necessities
power, watet,
sewage, communications,
Phase
Phase
rOlldfrom
from
Kahul
Kandahar
onschedule
schedule
to be
be completed
completed
December 31,
31,
and will
will
Phasei1ofofthe
ofthe
theroad
road
fromKabul
KabultotoKandahar
Kandaharisis on
scheduleto
completedby
by December
3 1, and
times from
&om 24
hours
to 88 hours.
cut drive times
from
24 hours
honrs to
Creating partnerships
partnetShips between
U.S. and
enbance development
developrnent opportunities.
opportunities.
Creating
partnerships
between U.S.
and Afghan
Afaan companies
companieswill
will enhance
enhance
development
opportunities.
Promoting
United
who
Af~anexports
e:q>orts to
warnen entrepreneurs
entrepreneurs in particular, who
Promoting Afghan
Afghan
exports
to the U
nited States will help women
ofthe
handicrafts and
V.S. market.
'
produce many
many of
of
thehandicrafts
handicrafts
and carpets
carpets for
forthe
theU.S.
U.S.
market.
produce
the
The
Tbe U.Sincludes several
severll.1 projects
private sector
sector development
develapment including
The
U.S. plan
plan includes
includes
several
projects to encourage
encourage private
private
sector
development
including the
the
of
ofmaTket
construction of
market centers, improvements to
to existing industrial parks
parks to
to improve
improve basic
basic
irfrastructure and
ir\frastrocture
and
security,
and funding
fun9ing
ownersbip.
infiitastructure
andsecurity,
security,and
funding for
€or land titling
titling programs
programs to legalize
legalize land ownership.
ownership.
Financing will
will also
also be
be available
for power
power generation
projectsand
naturalresources
rcsowccs
asscssmcnt.
Financing
also
available for
generation projects
projects
and natural
natural
rcsource$ assessment.
asscssment.
'o
10
10
00.' •• ' . ,
.........__..
..................
.........
i10/24/03
öif41Ö3'
., '1'[:
10/24/03
17:
17:
,
•
.........................................................................................
''''''' 'böe"
EXE<:;'
SF;'(;RETARIAT
DOC EXEC.
EXEC.:"SECRETARIAT
SECRETARIAT
DOC
- --- -
.'r;h
~00.2/010.
..... .... ....
I&JJ0O2/O1O
002/010
UNITED
STATES
DEPARTMENT
OF
COMMERCE
UNITED STATES
STAT€S DEPARTMENT
DEPARTMENTOF
OFCOMMERCE
COMMERCE
Office
Offi&e
of the
the Secrecary
Secretary
Office af
of
the
Secretary
Wa5hington,
D.C. 20230
20230
W65hington.
Washington, D.C.
0.C.
20230
,
I
October 24,
24,2003
October24,
2003
Oetober
2003
MEMORANDUM FOR:
FOR
MEMORANDUM
MEMORA1;'IDUM
FROM.
FI&OM:
F:ROM:
SUBECT:
SUBJECT:
The Honorable
Honorable Brian
Brian Montgomery
The
Assistant to the President
President and
and
Assistant
Secretary
Secretaryto
to the Cabinet
Cabinet
D~ison
ison Kaufman
Chief of Staff
staff
Staff
dJ Z~ef
fOT the President
Memorandum for
President
Attached is a memorandum fiorir
of Commerce
President
from Secretary
Secretary of
Commerce Donald L. Evans to President
Bush
Please
forward
Secretary
Evans’s
memorandum
to
the
President.
Thank
you.
Bush.
forward Secretary Evans's
Bush..
Evans's memorandum
memorandum to the President.
President. Thank you.
Attachment
Attacbment
22