U.S. – Central Asia TIFA Council Meeting

June 17-18, 2008 – The Republic of Tajikistan hosted the U.S. – Central Asia TIFA Council Meeting in Dushanbe held on June 17th and 18th , 2008. The Islamic Republic of Afghanistan was invited as an observer and Afghanistan was represented by Mr. Azim Wardak, Director of International Trade, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Mr. Suleman
Fatimie, CEO of EPAA and Mr. Najibullah Rahimi, Commercial Attache of Afghanistan in Tajikistan. H.E. Gulomjon Bobozoda, Minister of Economic Development and Trade of Tajikistan chaired while Mr. Mark Mowrey, Acting Assistant of USTR, US Trade Representative co-chaired the two day meeting. The participating countries discussed issues of mutual interest such as:.

Practical Steps for Improving Trade Facilitations

Update on Government Efforts to Reduce Administration Barriers Trade
Improving Logistics and Regional Trade and Transit Infrastructure
Building the Regional Electricity Market
Practical Challenges to Trade in Central Asia
Simplifications of the Administrative Barriers in Trade
Access to Import/Export Regulatory Information

At the end of the two day meeting an Action Plan was drafted confirming Each country’s commitment to:

Improve Investment Climate
Support work towards establishing a single window
Support efforts to make import/export information available
Identifying specific practical challenges to regional trade for future work

Export Promotion Agency of Afghanistan