The Central Asia-Caucasus Institute at SAIS, Johns Hopkins University, invites you to:

"What must be done now to make Afghanistan a Hub of Continental Trade and Transport?”

Featuring


H.E. Mr. Wahidullah Shahrani, Minister of Commerce and Industry, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan

Tuesday, October 6, 2009
5-7 PM
The Rome Auditorium, Rome Building
1619 Massachusetts Avenue, N.W.
Washington, DC 20036




Can Afghanistan's economy ever become self-sustaining? H.E., Mr. Shahrani, Minister of Commerce of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is firmly convinced it can, and points to the opening (or reopening) of long-distance trade as no less important than the sale of natural resources as the best means to achieve it. In this timely presentation he will identify concrete steps that can, and should be taken immediately, to reopen these proven channels of commerce in his country and the broader region of which Afghanistan is the heart.

The Forum opens with a reception and refreshments at 5 PM; the program will begin promptly at 5:30 PM and conclude at 7 PM. RSVP for this event is mandatory and will not be accepted after 10 AM on the day of the event. To register, please send an email with your name and affiliation to SAISCACIForums@jhu.edu or call 202-663-7723.

The Central Asia-Caucasus Institute is the primary institution in the United States for the study of the Caucasus, Central Asia and the Caspian Region. The Institute, affiliated with Johns Hopkins University-SAIS, forms part of a Joint Center with the Silk Road Studies Program, affiliated with the Stockholm-based Institute for Security and Development Policy. Additional information about the Joint Center, as well as its several publications series, is available at www.silkroadstudies.org