VZCZCXYZ0003
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHDBU #0120/01 0181010
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 181010Z JAN 08
FM AMEMBASSY DUSHANBE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0123
INFO RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHDC 0009

UNCLAS DUSHANBE 000120 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR EEB/CBA, EEB/EX AND SCA/CEN 
 
E.O. 12958:  N/A 
TAGS: AFIN BEXP BTIO ECON EINV ETRD ADPM TI
SUBJECT: FY07 BFIF REPORTING FROM DUSHANBE 
 
REF: (A) 2007 STATE 087036 (B) 2007 DUSHANBE 1046 
 
¶1.  Per reftel A, Embassy Dushanbe submits the following report 
regarding participation in the Business Facilitation Incentive Fund 
(BFIF) program in FY 2007.  Post again thanks the Economic Bureau 
for its support for these two successful programs. 
 
¶2.  Dushanbe - Regional Transportation Infrastructure Conference 
 
BFIF contribution: $2,000 
Amount disbursed: $2,000 
 
Budget breakdown: 
$500 for conference facility rental 
$1,000 for interpretation 
$500 for in-country transportation expenses 
 
BFIF funds contributed to the Central Asian Transportation 
Infrastructure Conference in Dushanbe May 7, sponsored by the U.S. 
Department of Commerce along with Embassy Dushanbe.  The conference 
provided an opportunity for Central Asian transport representatives 
to discuss their accomplishments and challenges within their 
respective transport sectors, along with the potential for future 
cooperation and growth.  Representatives from Tajikistan, 
Afghanistan, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan focused on improving aviation 
and road construction efforts to integrate Central and South Asia. 
The high level of participation -- more than 80 attendees -- 
demonstrated the desire for economic integration in the region and 
building/renovating roads between Kazakhstan and Karachi. 
 
Department of Commerce Deputy Assistant Secretary for Europe Paul 
Dyck opened the conference by explaining the U.S. government desire 
to expand U.S. trade links with Central Asia, while reducing trade 
and investment barriers through initiatives such as the Central Asia 
Trade and Investment Framework Agreement.  He also highlighted our 
mutual goal to create a regional electricity market, improve customs 
regimes and border security, and integrate telecom systems.  A 
representative from Caterpillar made a presentation on their 
products to the audience, with potential sales leads. 
 
Continued U.S. support for development and reform in the Central 
Asian transportation sector remains necessary to keep the dialogue 
going.  This conference demonstrated that regional leaders share the 
goals of Central and South Asian regional integration, and are 
actively working towards them. 
 
¶3.  Dushanbe - Tajik-Afghan Cross Border Trade 
 
BFIF contribution: $9,500 
Amount disbursed: $9,500 
 
Detailed budget breakdown of costs incurred May 2 - December 31: 
 
Salary      2841 
Honoraria      250 
Taxes      772.75 
Equipment      50 
Communications     83.87 
Rental of Trade Fair Facility  500 
Lodging Trade Fair Participants 1200 
Meals during Trade Fair   600 
Visa Expenses     700 
Bank Fees      150 
Stationary     520 
Seminar costs     1,380 
       ------ 
SubTotal      9047.62 
EFCA Overhead (6%)    452.38 
Total      9500 
 
The Eurasia Foundation of Central Asia, through their subgrantee 
non-governmental organization "Sapeda", conducted a series of 
seminars for businesspeople in the border areas of Tajikistan and 
Afghanistan in the vicinity of the U.S.-funded Nizhniy Pyanj bridge 
that opened in August 2007.  Over 480 people attended the seminars 
that increased the possibility for cross-border trade.  As part of 
this project Sapeda has also completed a legal manual in Tajik and 
Dari for government officials and entrepreneurs.  The project 
culminated in a cross-border trade fair October 21-23 in Kunduz, 
Afghanistan.  40 Afghan and Tajik traders displayed their goods at 
the trade fair, which generated strong public interest and press 
coverage, and gave a boost to cross border trade and regional 
economic integration. 
 
The project built on the success of two previous cross-border 
QThe project built on the success of two previous cross-border 
partnership projects implemented by Sapeda and the Eurasia 
Foundation, and helped small businesses and farmers on both sides 
realize their trade potential by seeking to eliminate administrative 
barriers across the border.  Bolstering cross-border trade and small 
and medium enterprises fits with the Embassy Kabul and Embassy 
Dushanbe's mission priorities of economic development and regional 
trade.  The project gets to the heart of regional economic 
integration by building capacity on both sides that could lead to 
increased trust between the countries and strengthened regional 
stability, in addition to developing markets for U.S. products and 
equipment.