EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
As part of the Centre for Research and Security Studies’ (CRSS) ongoing Pak-Afghan Trade and Economic Connectivity, the second Pak-Afghan Youth Entrepreneurs Conference was held on 09 February 2020, at Serena Hotel, Islamabad. This initiative – that was launched in 2017 – aims at improving bi-lateral business cooperation as well as exploring ways of developing partnerships and joint ventures between the two neighboring countries. Around twenty youth entrepreneurs, both from Pakistan and Afghanistan and belonging to various fields, came together (complete list of both delegations appended below) along with the business mentors in the field of digital economy and information technology. The objective was to highlight an alternative in the form of the digital space for continuing businesses that can bypass the majority of the logistical, bureaucratic, and administrative hurdles that are conventionally faced by the business community in both countries.
During the inaugural session of the conference, Chaudry Fawad Hussain, Federal Minister for Science and Technology, assured the Afghan entrepreneurs that the Government of Pakistan (GoP) will fully support and facilitate businesses development in Pakistan. He reminded Ambassador of Afghanistan to Pakistan, H.E Najibullah Alikhil – who also attended the conference – of Pakistan’s offer of opening a COMSATS University campus in Kandahar. He said that President Ashraf Ghani had already been offered this last year. Ambassador Najibullah Alikhil thanked the GoP and ensured that he will act as a bridge between both Governments to enable and strengthen bilateral relations. H.E also acknowledged CRSS’ role in achieving remarkable progress in Pak-Afghan relations through People-to-People engagements at numerous levels.
CRSS collaborated with the National Incubation Center (NIC) for this event to update the Afghan youth entrepreneurs regarding regional digital business opportunities. This collaboration further aimed to connect Afghan entrepreneurs with the NIC based startups who can share their experiences, contextual knowledge and challenges faced whilst launching their startups. Furthermore, these young entrepreneurs can collaborate in the future through mutual partnerships and various other joint ventures; thus, further supporting the regional economic connectivity. Hence, to adapt the contemporary business strategies and fine tune the existing business models of these aspiring entrepreneurs, CRSS requested NIC mentors to participate in the conference as well to provide constructive feedback, suggestions and guidance that would help to improve their existing methodologies and techniques. This session proved to be very productive as the suggestions offered by the NIC mentors aided in the entrepreneurs’ revision of their existing business models. Additionally, the NIC has offered full support and coordination to the Afghan entrepreneurs by helping in designing a custom curriculum for such a facility in Kabul as well.
KEY TAKEAWAY POINTS
The Pak-Afghan Youth Entrepreneurs conference revealed some significant takeaway points that can enlighten the Action Plan developed by the Consortium for strengthening regional economic connectivity. These points are summarized below.
- GoP is focusing on skill development of the youth entrepreneurs. A dedicated facility, Neon Tech University, has been developed for this purpose. The GoP of Pakistan is willing to induct Afghan entrepreneurs in this University as well.
- Pakistan will offer Afghan entrepreneurs enrollment in National Incubation Centers to incubate their startups. Afghan entrepreneurs can submit their applications through the embassy and the government will allocate them with the relevant incubation center.
- NIC will sign a Memorandum of Understanding(MoU) with CRSS to further engage in such initiatives to explore regional opportunities.
- NIC and CRSS will hold collaborative webinars on dedicated themes and topics to facilitate the entrepreneurs regionally.
- NIC will assist the Afghan entrepreneurs in carrying out research on the Pakistani market.
- NIC is willing to provide their technical inputs to Afghanistan for establishing incubation facilities for startups.
Pak-Afghan Youth Entrepreneurs Conference Report
In the inaugural session of the conference, Mr. Imtiaz Gul, Executive Director CRSS, welcomed all participants and honorable keynote speakers. He reiterated that this meeting intended to provide young entrepreneurs an opportunity to share ideas amongst each other and explore various avenues for mutual collaborations. Mr. Gul was optimistic that this meeting will act as a breeding ground for more innovative ideas, particularly private sector partnerships. He suggested that the private sectors of both the countries can play a role in bringing the Governments together.
Whilst addressing the participants, H.E Ambassador Najibullah Alikhil stated that the security and prosperity of Afghanistan and Pakistan are highly interconnected. Therefore, both countries must work together for mutual benefits. He further added that remarkable progress has been made through Pak-Afghan partnerships; particularly through People-to-People interactions. He expressed hope that joint ventures of the public and private sector will support in enhancing the relations between the two countries. He further highlighted the importance of such meetings because the youth’s voices are heard and bilateral trade ties between the two neighbors are enhanced. H.E was of the view that lasting and durable peace is the fundamental demand and desire of all Afghans and that it is only achievable by reducing violence and a comprehensive cease fire. Moreover, he added that the youth from both sides can play an essential role in peace building, countering terrorism, and for the development of Afghanistan. He assured Afghanistan’s commitment to develop connections with Pakistan including People-to-People, Business-to-Business, and Government-to-Government interactions. He gave the young participants a powerful message to collaborate in order to bring peace and development within the region. He also advocated that both countries should work together for bringing peace, trust building, synergy, and brotherhood in their relationship.
The Federal Minister of Science and Technology also addressed the participants during the conference. He stated that Pakistan can understand and empathize with Afghanistan’s grief because the nation has had similar experiences historically; 70,000 casualties and heavy economic losses deeply impacted the country negatively.
He expressed the view that there is a huge onus on the youth of both countries to forget previous bitter experiences and instead work collectively for a better future, which can only be achieved through scientific innovation and learning lessons from the past.
While highlighting the importance of mutual cooperation in the education sector, he expressed Pakistan’s will to establish a campus of the COMSATS university, which is the top technological university in Pakistan, in the Kandahar province of Afghanistan. Moreover, he assured Pakistan’s readiness to open almost all its universities to Afghan students who aspire to pursue their higher education in Pakistan. Additionally, he encouraged the establishment of scientific and incubation centers across Afghanistan since only quality education and enlightenment can ensure a bright and secure future. He also proposed that Afghan entrepreneurs should send applications through their embassy for incubating their startups in Pakistan; the applications would be reffered to the relevant incubation centers across the country.
He further advised Afghanistan to learn the art of transforming calamities into opportunities, just like Pakistan: the country used Covid-19 as an opportunity to become self-sufficient in the manufacturing of necessary medical and protective apparatus along with ventilators. Presently, Pakistan is exporting masks and other necessary equipment to other countries, he said. This year, Pakistan is planning to provide ventilators to Afghanistan as well.
He also floated the idea of creating a network where military and civil research complement each other. He also encouraged Pakistan and Afghanistan to join hands in innovating in science and technology by employing biotechnology techniques, as they are quite affordable and suitable for countries with developing economies.
The participants expressed their gratitude to the honorable Minister for sharing his Government’s commitments and initiatives. They requested the Minister that both Pakistan and Afghanistan should collaborate digitally in various fields such as education, health, and tourism. The Minister not only agreed to this but also informed them that his Ministry is finalizing a digital transformation plan that will ensure collaboration with Afghanistan through digital technologies in all the above-mentioned avenues.
During the second session of the conference, recommendations that had emanated from the inaugural conference were reviewed. Moreover, the participants discussed the prospects built during the preceding conference and challenges faced whilst taking forward some of the links established last year. It is worth mentioning that two entrepreneurs from Afghanistan and Pakistan, who engaged during the last conference are in the process of signing a joint venture. Moreover, the representatives of the Afghan Women Chamber of Commerce and Industries (AWCCI) and Islamabad Women Chamber of Commerce and Industries (IWCCI) engaged during the inaugural conference and have now signed a MoU for mutual collaboration to set up exhibitions in both countries. These outcomes were yielded as a result of this initiative. The participants urged that such interactions must be sustained in the future since they assist in building networks and exhibiting ideas and initiatives to their counterparts.
During the third session of the conference, the young participants presented their startups and business ideas to get critical reviews from fellow young entrepreneurs and the representatives from the NIC. Participants from Pakistan and Afghanistan engaged in an interactive session and shared their experiences and journeys for the fellows to learn from. Moreover, the mentors also recommended several contemporary techniques and strategies to adapt in their existing models which will eventually aid in scaling their businesses and startups. The mentors also offered digital courses on focused themes to certain entrepreneurs to augment their businesses.
Finally, the Afghan entrepreneurs visited the NIC where they were briefed by the team regarding their mode of operations. The participants acknowledged the facility and efforts of the center in incubating startups. The Director Marketing NIC presented a comprehensive presentation to the participants which demonstrated the effort of the NIC in nurturing and establishing more than 200 startups across Pakistan in the last four years. He reaffirmed NIC’s support to Afghanistan in initiating and establishing such a facility in Kabul.
FINAL RECOMMENDATIONS
The following recommendations were drafted at the end of conference for upcoming collaboration between NIC and CRSS.
- NIC will sign a Memorandum of Understanding with CRSS to further engage in such initiatives to explore regional opportunities.
- Joint webinars on dedicated topics related to entrepreneurship will be held in the future for entrepreneurs from both countries.
- NIC will assist startups in refining pitch deck and presentations.
- All relevant stakeholders will exchange data on startup ecosystem of both countries for future prospects.
- Virtual get togethers will be organized between NIC startups and Afghan entrepreneurs.