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Istanbul Forum Convenes for the Fourth Meeting Istanbul Forum will work on human resources development in the short and medium term and on agricultural industrial zones, capacity building programs and microcredit based business development business development centers.
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25/01/2010 - Viewed 2282 times ISTANBUL - Fourth meeting of the Istanbul Forum bringing together Turkish, Afghan and Pakistani businesspeople to develop mutual dialogue and economic cooperation convened for the fourth time on January 25, 2010. At the meeting focus was agreed to be put on human resources development in Afghanistan and industrial zones, capacity improvement and business development centers in Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Participants of the meeting hosted by Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanged of Turkey (TOBB) Chairman M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu in Istanbul involved Ahmet Davutoğlu, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkey; Zalmai Rassoul, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Afghanistan; Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan; Sher Khan Farnood, Chairman of Afghanistan  Chamber of Commerce and Industries (ACCI); Sultan Ahmed Chawla, Federation of Pakistani Chamber of Commerce and Industry, as well as representatives from chambers of industry and trade of the two countries.

Delivering the opening speech, TOBB Chairman Hisarcıklıoğlu underlined that they want to make mutual investments in Afghanistan and Pakistan and said: "We are making effort to bring people of the countries closer through initiatives in education, commerce, economy and transportation." Hisarcıklıoğlu also called on governments to support the activities of the Forum established to this end and on the way to institutionalization.

In his speech, Minister of Foreign Affairs Ahmet Davutoğlu maintained that security and peace can only be built upon economic cooperation. Davutoğlu also stated that they are negotiating with Pakistani officials for launching of regular train service between Istanbul and Islamabad, which will unite Asian economy with European economy.

Human resources is a priority

Giving information about the activities of the Forum, TEPAV Director Prof. Dr. Güven Sak expressed that several structures to serve for tripartite dialogue and training efforts were established, training programs were carried out and official talks were hold with Forum countries as well as officials from Washington D.C. underlining that the deterioration in security conditions is a big impediment to the process, Sal emphasized that tripartite business partnerships could contribute to the establishment of stability at the region.  Sak went on to say that efforts must concentrate on feasible and sustainable projects and that human resources problem of Afghanistan should be addressed immediately as a priority area.

What does the common position paper say?

The common position note declared after the meeting stated that the Forum agreed on the feasibility of operations on agricultural industrial zones, capacity improvement programs for institutionalization and microcredit based business development programs. Agreeing on the long-term operability of this strategy, Forum members decided that in the short term a project that will contribute to the human resources development in Afghanistan is necessary. It was agreed that the project should be devoted to establish two institutes: National Teacher Training Institute and National Curriculum Development Institute. Forum members also underlined they are pleased about the foundation of Institute for Private Sector and Economic Development (IPSED) and Training and Research Institute for Public Policy (TRIPP) under the body of TOBB University of Economics and Technology as was decided in the previous meeting. The Forum also appreciated the trainings the institutes carried out for experts from Competition Commission of Pakistan. The Forum decided to convene for the next in the second half of 2010.

 

 

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