Page 27 - DIVA_1_2008_No.32

Peace building through trade in Afghanistan

- a World Trade Centre Association project

The World Trade Center in August 5tli by Aziz Sadat, measurement based upon
with well-attended inaugu- vei'ifiable date.
Kabul has larinclied an
ral celebration iii Kabul tliat
ambitioris plan to biing all
empliasis tlie Institute's As stated above the
the ti'ibal leaders in tliat sti'i-
coini'nitment to reuniting Institute will be an affiliate
fe-toi'i'i counti'y togetlier for
the nation as a collective project of tlie World Trade

a series of coi'istiuctive dis-
cussions and trainiiig. Tlie force with coininon bonds, Centre Kabul as a non-
puiposes and convictions. govei'nniental non profit
emphasises will be on edu-
educptional institution
cation, sl61ls trainiiig, lea-
Tlie Iiistitue will also sei've wliicli l'iowever will be
dership development and
as a foiui'n wliere piimai'y accountable to tlie public iii
conflict resolution among
actors in volatile tribal, tei'i'ns of transparent disclo-
otlier impoitant topics.
coini'nunity, regional and sures of revenue sources,
Following guidelines Mr
political disputes can be amountsand pui'poses of
Guy Tozzoli, President of
convened in a safe environ- expenditures and general food, clothing, shelter and
tlie World Trade Centers
ment in wluch to air tlieir statements of activities per- other necessities of life
Association developed
grievances, and to interact fonns. required by families every-
wlien tlie WTCA was esta-
with opposing dispritants in where. Poverty is often a
blislied in 1970, this pro-
civil, candid, creative and For Guy Tozzoli:"It's extre- pe breeding ground for
grainine will be uiffquely
productive ways a means to mely gratifying to me to see conflict and economic deve-
tailored to the needs of tlie
resolve tlieir differences liow the World Trade lopment is the remedy.
region involved. It will be
through equitable, practical Center concept togetlier as World Trade Centers are
Afghans tallmg to Afghans
and durable resotutions. the liead of the World Trade powerful engines of econo-
about solving the nation's
Centers in New York lias mic development, and as
problems togetlier and
Fuitheri'nore tlie Institute floui'islied iii all kind of set- shown by the World Trade
replaciiig coi'iflict and ten-
will interact witli siinilar tings. In tlie largest cities of Center in Kabul, the engine
sion witli cooperation,
instihitions througli tlie the world, it means lielping can accommodate a wide
consh'uctive effoits and
world iii order to ei'iliance clients identifyiiig tlie i'ight variety of regional circiuns-
optiinism for the regioi'i's
cui'i'icula, to engage iii the trading paitners for tliem tances.
future.
cross cultiiral feitilization orit of a great mass ofpriva-

The program is going for- of tlieoiy, processes and te foi'ins and govenu'nents Eveiy tiine a World Trace
skills in the contiiiual quest agencies involved in trade. Centers lielps a client any-
ward under tlie aegis of the
to develop "best practices hi inid-size cities, a World wliere make contact with an
Afghanistan National
and to develop objective Trade Center showcases for overseas trading paitner, it is
Institute for Peace and
evaluation processes and tlie region's sei'vices and anotlier small step toward
Justice, wl'iich is pait of
instniments for program- organizations available to intemational understandiiig
World Trade Center Kabul.
inic evaluation with meti'ic help iiitei'national busiiies- and a way from ignorance,
Tlie Institute was launched

ses. And iit a region like tension and conflict. When
Kabul, wliere a world trade tliis process is replicated
infrasti'ucture is non- evei'y day by about 309
existant, tlie World Trade World Trade Centers iii 88
Centers begins by counh'ies aro'iuid the globe,
educating coinimuffty lea- tlie ii'npact is significant. But
ders in tlie fui'idamentals of the most iinpoitant benefit is
busii'iess management. tliat we are not only expan-
ding trade, we are expandiiig
But in every case tlie tnist, and ti'ust is tlie essen-
di'iving force remaiiis tlie tial ingredient for peace."
same - econoinic develop-
ment. It's essential for
hiu'nan progress. It produ-
ces jobs and employment,
wliicl'i translates iiito the
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