The EastWest Institute convened the fifth Abu Dhabi Process Meeting, “Afghanistan Reconnected: Businesses Take Action to Unlock Trade in the Region,” in Istanbul on November 26-27, 2014. The Abu Dhabi Process is a series of high-level consultations that address regional economic security issues in Afghanistan post-2014.  

EWI’s Istanbul consultation was held in cooperation with The Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB). Over 40 high-level representatives of private sector and Chambers of Commerce and Industries, CEOs of transport and logistic companies and Members of Parliament from the region and beyond were jointly welcomed by TOBB’s President, M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu and EWI’s Vice President Martin Fleischer.

The aim of this meeting was to assess trade and transit challenges, as well as opportunities in the trans-Afghan transit and trade corridors, and to agree on a list of policy actionsrequired to unlock regional trade. The conference also assessed regulatory frameworks for investment, and highlighted potential economic gains for the region in the Afghan economy. 

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