PRESS RELEASE:
April 24, 2018

SUBJECT:
Afghanistan – U.S. Business Matchmaking Conference Being Hosted in Washington, D.C. on April 25-26, 2018

Washington, D.C.:   Since October, 2002, the Afghan-American Chamber of Commerce (AACC) has served as the leading organization facilitating U.S.-Afghanistan business, investment and trade ties through its “Business Matchmaking Conferences” or BMCs.  Member services include informational exchanges and business development resources to members in the form of business advice, conferences, briefings, seminars, networking events, publications, and other program vehicles to stimulate bilateral business and investment relationships.  The AACC brings together companies, organizations, diaspora and individuals with a stake in helping Afghanistan succeed and promoting a “Business Friendly” enabling environment for private sector development and growth.  The AACC supports a market-led economy and serves as a link between the private sector and government to encourage economic policies that result in increased business and investment between the U.S. and Afghanistan.

The AACC is hosting its 13th Annual Business Matchmaking Conference entitled “BMC 2018” on April 25-26, 2018 with the following events and activities open to credentialed media:

  • WEDNESDAY, APRIL 25 AND THUSDAY, APRIL 26, 2018 (8:00am-6:00pm)
    • AACC BMC 2018 at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center, 1300 Pennsylvania Ave. N.W. Atrium Hall,  Washington, DC 20004
  • WEDNESDAY, APRIL 25, 2018 (6:00PM-8:00PM)
    • AACC BMC 2018 Annual Industry Awards Dinner at the J.W. Marriott Hotel, 14th and Pennsylvania Ave. NW. Award dinner will honor Dr. Ehsan Bayat, Founder and Chairman of The Bayat Group for his leadership across multiple industry sectors within Afghanistan.

Who are AACC members?

AACC members are composed of:  a) business leaders (both men and women) from the business communities of the U.S. and Afghanistan; b) leaders from international assistance implementing organizations and donor institutions involved in Afghan private sector development; c) think tank and international organization leaders involved in Afghanistan policy making; and d) influential leaders from the civil society community involved in Afghanistan as well as representatives from other organizations.

What is the Business Matchmaking Conference or BMC?

The AACC has held an annual Business Matchmaking Conference almost every year since 2003 and this year’s BMC 2018 will be the 13th BMC held in Washington, D.C.  The BMC is the largest conference of its kind worldwide; promoting the growing economic and commercial relationship between the United States and Afghanistan and helping to nurture a strong private sector enabling environment that is pro-growth, market-led, anti-corruption focused, encouraging of women’s role in business and is working toward a self-sustaining domestic resource base fueled by a vibrant business economy.  The annual BMC is also the main program by which the AACC, as a completely volunteer organization, funds its annual activities.

What are the BMC’s critical program components?

The annual BMC is broken down into four critical programmatic components:

  1. BMC Event and Keynote Speakers: the BMC drives major thought leadership into the two full days of conference meetings through a series of high-level thought leadership interventions focused on both private sector and government leaders —especially those with a strategic role in private sector development inside Afghanistan.  Each day has a morning and afternoon theme to drive keynote and panel discussions.
  2. BMC Event and Sector/Panel Discussions: The AACC attempts to bring a focused business development and enabling environment discussion to the proceedings by engaging leaders in targeted, high-growth sector of importance to Afghanistan private sector growth.  For BMC 2018 these panels will incli8de:  Export-led Agriculture and Agribusiness; Extractives and Mining; Women-Owned Businesses; ICT Sector investment Opportunities; Energy and Infrastructure;  New Investment Opportunities; Banking and Access to Finance and others.
  3. BMC Annual Awards Dinner: The annual awards dinner provides the AACC with a chance to recognize one Afghanistan and one U.S. corporate partner that has worked tirelessly to promote or progress the private sector development of Afghanistan.
  4. BMC Matchmaking Sessions: usually held at the end of each days program and panel activities (on Day Two and Three) the AACC organizes one-on-one meetings with major panelists, organization and business leaders and potential U.S. and Afghan business partners.  It is a little bit of “speed dating” mixed with a little bit of “guerilla marketing” but after 13 annual BMCs this continues to be one of the key areas for attendee participation and value-added. 

 

For further information please contact: www.a-acc.org or call: 703-955-7706.