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Afghanistan goes global with Gulbahar Group

Gulbahar Group has a reputation built on innovation, workmanship and service

Gulbahar International is a dynamic, well-established manufacturing firm with its headquarters in Jebel Ali Free Zone (JAFZA), Dubai. As part of the Gulbahar Group, the company is focused on meeting its customer's demands and expectations.
It always strives to excel in the global competitive arena as a progressive and quality conscious company, keeping industry benchmark in mind. Gulbahar Group is an equal opportunity company having a healthy blend of personnel of different nationalities.
In Jebel Ali, Gulbahar International has a huge factory, office and warehouse spread over 15,000 square metres. The company has taken additional space of 5,000 square metres for warehouse purposes to expand its infrastructure.
"The company originated in native Afghanistan and later we developed business ties in Europe. Thereafter, the business diversified into other key areas like tea, tobacco, construction, steel, fuel etc. We moved the business out of Afghanistan when the security situation in the country deteriorated," says Wahid Habibi, CEO of Gulbahar International.
In 1995, Gulbahar International started its operations in the UAE. "We have been in the UAE for 20 years and it has been a great stint for us as a firm. Gulbahar International had set up its own factory and office in Jebel Ali in 1996 with production kick-starting a year later.
In the last two decades we have expanded almost five-fold. Gulbahar International is aiming to grow further and set up more factories in other geographies - primarily in the CIS and Russia.
"In order to realise our objective, we believe in a continuous process of development, modernising and upgrading our technology. Gulbahar International has a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility equipped with modern machines at Jebel Ali Free Zone, Dubai.
The company has developed a team of 200 skilled and experienced personnel to operate modern machines. Our dedication to excellence is reflected in every product we develop and supply. The company has a total manpower of around 300 persons," says Habibi.
Gubahar International, which started its operation in 2011 in Germany, has been able to strengthen market by developing and delivering contemporary offers relevant to the changing attitudes and ambitions of the persistently growing demand of the customers of European market.
Gulbahar Group is one of the biggest developers of office spaces and residential towers in Afghanistan. "We have built one of the region's biggest shopping centre in Kabul. It is a 20,000-square-metre complex with hotels, 1,100 shops and other high-end properties spread over four floors.
'Gulbahar Towers' is another project consisting of 1,000 apartments, which are a part of four major undertakings that Gulbahar Group has in its portfolio at the moment," Habibi told Khaleej Times.
Using Dubai as its main hub, Gulbahar International exports to several countries in the Middle East, CIS and Africa. "Dubai is strategically important for us. From here we are able to reach to a number of important markets easily.
JAFZA has accorded us the comfort and ease to carry out our operations in a systematic way. Jebel Ali Free Zone provides the right kind of modern infrastructure and the advantage of location to us."
The company has an ambitious expansion plan in the future. "I seek to take the business into various countries with our own factories in those geographies. Ultimately, we aim to make Gulbahar Group a multinational company (MNC) with operations in several business centres."
As a group, Gulbahar has a number of important projects lined up. "We are eyeing Afghanistan in a major way, as there are plenty of opportunities for the group in that country. We will be getting into mining business shortly. It is a virgin territory with huge stakes across huge areas. We hope the security situation improves, so that we are in a position to tap into those areas."
The relationship of Gulbahar Group with Afghanistan is a very close one. "We are very happy to work in Afghanistan and help the people. The group is keen to contribute to the country's economy in a big way. With the setting up of more businesses, our scope to contribute towards nation-building will also grow."
Noted for its corporate social responsibility (CSR) work with the communities, Gulbahar Group has various charities and foundations, working closely with people. "We identify the needs of people and reach out with assistance. We undertake charity projects on a daily, weekly and monthly basis. Gulbahar Group carried out several Ramadan charity events and initiatives in Afghanistan and Pakistan recently. The idea is to be able to do it on a global scale - since our operations are global."
Pointing at security concerns and rampant corruption in Afghanistan as the main obstacles for a smooth business environment, Habibi added that solving these two vexed issues would change things significantly in the region. "Besides increasing your cost of projects, it becomes difficult to operate efficiently in a system that favours graft. I hope things improve in Afghanistan soon."
Notwithstanding difficulties at home, Gulbahar Group has been able to demonstrate ingenuity and successful business models abroad. "Our business operation from Dubai has given us a huge advantage. Gulbahar International turnover in Dubai alone is Dh660 million with the overall group turnover in the range of Dh1,110 million. The total group assets are in the range of Dh2.57 billion. We export to more than 30 countries currently."
A father to three sons, Habibi wants to take the Gulbahar brand to new heights. "My aim is to see our product wherever I go. I am working towards that in the right earnestness," Habibi concluded.
-    sadiq@khaleejtimes.com
Personal trajectory
Wahid Habibi, CEO, Gulbahar International, started off with his business in Uzbekistan (1994), promoting the group's sales in the CIS before moving to Dubai.
 
Board of Directors
Zargai Habibi
Gulbahar Habibi
Wahid Habibi
 
Key locations where Gulbahar international exports:
-      East Africa
-      West Africa
-      Middle East
-      CIS
-      Eastern Europe
-      Far East