Kunduz Access to Finance (A2F) Business to Bank Roundtable
Date: October 28-29, 2014
On October 28-29, ABA, with support from USAID's FAIDA project, organized a two-day “Access to Finance and Business to Bank Roundtable” event in Kunduz. In addition to presentation from participating ABA member banks, the event included presentations from mobile money and contract farming professionals.
The roundtable specifically targeted business enterprises operating in Kunduz Province by facilitating access to finance through linking them with potential lenders. The roundtable provided these enterprise the opportunity to exchange viewpoints and identify challenges and opportunities in improving their productivity and accessing loans. Public sector invitees included Afghanistan Investment Supporting Agency; Kundoz Directorate of Chamber of Commerce and Industries; women from the Directorate of Woman Affairs of Kundoz; and youth associations. From the private sector, ABA member banks, certain Microfinance Institutions, traders and producers from agriculture, industry and the service sector participated.
More than 160 participants, including twelve representatives from six ABA member banks attended. Mr. Edrees Alimy, ABA Research Analyst, and addressed the participants.
Mr. Alimy, in his speech, thanked USAID/FAIDA for financing ABA’s support of Afghanistan banks, and he encouraged local business persons to expand their businesses by borrowing funds from commercial banks or microfinance Institutions, whether via conventional or Islamic means.
Thereafter, representatives from AISA, KCCI Directorate, and Directorate of Economic delivered speeches to the participants focusing on the Kunduz business environment, business opportunities/threats, and government support to the businesses. ABA member banks also presented their presentations on their products, services and types of credit/procedures to the participants.
