Afghanistan

Population: 29.1 million (UN, 2010)

Languages: Dari, Pashto

Monetary unit: Afghani

Main Exports: Fruit and nuts, carpets, wool, opium (CIA World Factbook, 2012)

GNI per capita: US $370 (World Bank, 2009)

ODA: $6.24 billion (OECD, 2009)

Human Development Index ranking: 172 out of 189 (UN, 2010)

Estimated GDP growth: 22.5% (World Bank 2009/2010)

• Local Business Directory
• Training
• Matchmaking
• Tender Distribution
• Market Research
• Advocacy

Our work in Afghanistan has achieved the following results.*

• Our team has helped 680 Afghan businesses to win 1,300 contracts valued at over $1 billion. These contracts helped create or sustain an estimated 65,000 full-time equivalent jobs in Afghanistan.
• 8,302 local businesses including 272 that are female-owned have been registered through verification surveys.
• Tender distribution services have collected and disseminated 7,530 tenders to our network of suppliers, creating transparency in contracting and increasing access to business opportunities.
• Over 1,500 entrepreneurs have received training helping to improve their knowledge about procurement processes and standards as well as their ability to successfully compete for, win and execute tenders.
• Over 1,000 matchmaking reports have been generated for buyers looking for suppliers in the Afghan marketplace and our communication and advocacy efforts have helped inspire changes in buy local policy.
• Our team has trained 40 civil society organizations (CSOs) to increase their capacity to help support the democratic process in Afghanistan.

*Source: Building Markets, June 2014