Long-standing relationship embedded in history

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Long-standing relationship embedded in history
His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, with Dr Mohammed Ashraf Ghani, President of Afghanistan, at Zabeel Palace in Dubai. - Wam

Abdul Farid Zikria, Ambassador of Afghanistan to the UAE, talks to Khaleej Times about the country's journey towards peace and prosperity, and the potential it holds. Excerpts from the interview:

by

Farhana Chowdhury

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Published: Tue 23 Aug 2016, 1:42 PM

Last updated: Thu 16 Jan 2020, 10:59 AM

Tell us about yourself and your experience as the Ambassador.
I come from a family with many years of experience in the Foreign Office.
My career path in the first part of my life was purely technical, and by training I am a Nuclear Engineer with over 14 years of experience in the field of Nuclear Risk and Safety Assessment. However, with the new chapter opening in the Afghan history in 2002, I wanted to be able to participate in the reconstruction efforts of my homeland.
In 2002 I joined the newly established Afghan Government lead by President Hamid Karzai. I served for almost three years as the Chief of Protocol at the Afghan Foreign Ministry. In October 2004, I became the first full-fledged Afghan Ambassador to the UAE, where I served for almost five years. Upon returning to Afghanistan, I joined the private sector and established a private company with a speciality in water and energy.
With the establishment of the Unity Government in September 2014, I was given the task to serve once again as the Afghan Ambassador to the UAE to further strengthen the relations between our two brotherly countries. It has been almost seven months since my return and I find myself in a familiar environment that I can call "a home away from home", and in a familiar role, perhaps with different challenges and tasks. The wonderful thing about the experience this time around is that the leadership of both countries is committed to fortifying the existing close bilateral and strategic relationship between the two nations.
What are the key areas you aim to achieve and develop during your tenure?
We have deep-rooted relations with our Arab brothers in the region, particularly with the UAE. Today more than 120,000 Afghans reside in the UAE. The majority of Afghans, some 50,000, live in Al Ain.
The Afghanistan-UAE relations, prior to the establishment of formal political representations, began decades earlier by people of the two countries. Afghans started to come to the area for trade and work. 
Formal relations between Afghanistan and the UAE was established in 1973, however, the special bond was created during the Afghan Jihad against the Soviet invasion. It was during the leadership of the late President Shaikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan when the Government and the people of the UAE wholeheartedly supported the Afghan people in their struggle against the Soviet Red Army and their communist puppet regime. Following the success of the Afghan Jihad, the Afghan Embassy in Abu Dhabi came into being in 1993. After the removal of the Taliban regime, bilateral relations were renewed and both countries established their embassies in each other's capitals.
I feel very honoured to serve a second time as the Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan to the UAE. My first time around, I believe, I had accomplished most of the goals I set out to, such as encouraging the UAE Government to upgrade the level of its diplomatic representation in Kabul, significantly increased dialogue between the leaders of the two countries, attracted the first large UAE private investment, helped to establish the first ever Afghan Business Council, etc.
My first time was both challenging and exciting and I believe I left on a relatively high note. So much time has passed since then and so many changes have occurred in this region, but alas we have a new government and a new leadership, who I believe, truly cares and is deeply committed in further strengthening affinity and bond with the GCC countries and specifically with the UAE.
I have many wonderful and new ideas that I would like to see developed this time such as having a more direct relationship with the UAE private sector and strive towards shaping our bilateral relations based on a common vision for future. The current status of economic cooperation between the two countries should be significantly increased, considering the possibilities and potential that exist in both countries.
                        
Please elaborate on the Security and Defence Cooperation Agreement with the UAE. 
Afghanistan and the UAE are working closely with other members of the international community in countering terrorism. The UAE, under the wise leadership of The President, His Highness Shaikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan,  has managed to remain a stable country in a very troubled region. The UAE, more than ever before, plays a significant role in the politics of the region, thus we place a very high importance to the UAE's views on ways and means to fight in the face of terrorism.
Tell us about the imports and exports between Afghanistan and the UAE.
We consider the UAE a very important trade partner for Afghanistan. Traditionally, we have always enjoyed sound economic relations with the UAE. The UAE is Afghanistan's second largest trading partner in the Middle East.
The volume of trade between the two countries is dominated by the export through the ports in the UAE. Afghan export to the UAE is currently low, but there is considerable potential for rise in the coming years. A large chunk, over 90 per cent of Afghan export is accounted for by fresh and dry fruit as well as the handmade carpets, whereas the UAE's exports to Afghanistan have been growing for the past 15 years. Re-exports constitute a significant chunk of the total trade volume between the two countries.

What opportunities does Afghanistan possess for business and trade?
Thanks to its location, Afghanistan has been transformed from a distant landlocked country into a transit nation in the heart of Asia. It is a vital trade route and business port where the Middle East meets Central and South Asia. Investment in Afghanistan is seen as an excellent opportunity to take advantage of the low production costs. Major reconstruction efforts have taken place in the last decade to rebuild roads and bridges in order to connect Central and South Asian countries to Afghanistan.
Afghanistan is a country with big potential for economic growth, with an abundance of and mostly untapped natural resources worth trillions of dollars. Many individual success stories of thriving businesses reflect the overall positive development in the country. The Government has shown its commitment to promote the development of Afghanistan's private sector and in all its actions has shown hands-on approach to support businesses.
The Afghan community residing in the UAE has contributed to the economy of this country. The richest Afghan community outside Afghanistan is in the UAE. Over 1,500 affluent Afghan businessmen have invested in the UAE and have a total asset of more than $15 billion.
It is worth noting that the UAE has shown interest in investing in Afghanistan, especially in telecommunication, energy and agricultural areas. The UAE's largest telecom company, Etisalat, has been operating in Afghanistan since 2008.
We believe that the UAE's investment in Afghanistan in areas such as agriculture, power generation, and urban development, exploration of oil and gas fields, and mining of minerals will generate huge business opportunities. The Afghan Government and the private sector are eager to form joint business ventures with the UAE's counterparts in various sectors.
Are there any support systems in place to assist Afghan businesses in exploring and setting up a base in the UAE market, and vice versa?
Afghan traders were among the first business people to arrive in the UAE for income opportunities about 60 to 70 years ago. The UAE has been and still is the top investment country for Afghan investors. The Afghan Business Council located in Dubai (established almost 10 years ago) is the best resource for assisting Afghan businessmen when investing in the UAE. Afghanistan Investment Support Agency (AISA), which is government operated agency, provides quality services to investors, facilitates cross border partnerships, and business enabling measures and reforms.
Please elaborate on the cooperation in the cultural and tourism fields.
Recognising the bonds that go beyond the economic interests, cooperation in various fields is expected to increase. Afghanistan is a country of many civilisations, religious and cultural diversity. The embassy is planning to hold some cultural events in the coming months and I hope we can learn a lot from each other's rich cultural heritage.
The UAE is a popular transit destination and holiday place for Afghans. Its central location, lifestyle and availability of various services, makes it a destination of choice for Afghan travellers. Direct flights between Afghanistan and the UAE are the main reason for the growth in tourism.  Currently, there are six daily flights by the four airlines operating between Afghanistan and the UAE including Emirates airline and flydubai.
Afghanistan is a land of splendid natural beauty and has always attracted visitors from here and the greater Middle East. It is also an archaeological haven with sites that date back to the world's earliest settlements rivalling those of ancient Egypt.  However, tourism that was once a thriving industry has been greatly affected by more than three decades of conflict. We are hopeful that with the return of peace and security, the tourism sector will rise once again.
Final words...
Today, Afghanistan is on the path to development with the support from friends like the UAE.  Afghanistan is in the process of reconstruction and progress. This journey towards peace and prosperity would not have been possible if such generous support were not extended.
In the last 15 years, our civil society is once again becoming vibrant following decades of stagnation. With the use of our natural resources, our economy is predicted to become one of the strongest in the region, and we have the potential for becoming a hub for trade in the region. In fact, Afghanistan today represents a moral accomplishment in the world, a cooperation of various countries.

- farhana@khaleejtimes.com


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