{"efta_number": "EFTA01071356", "page_count": 2, "url": "https://epstein-data.com/EFTA01071356", "pdf_url": "https://epstein-data.com/pdf/EFTA01071356.pdf", "pages": [{"efta_number": "EFTA01071356", "page_number": 0, "text_content": "Helmand: High Value Commercial Opportunities for Foreign Investment \nBrief for HRH Duke of York: 19 December 2010 \nMarket Facts \n• \nHelmand's main airport, BOST, 90 minutes flying-time from Dubai \n• \n20% of the world population within 3 hours flying time \n• \nThe main towns, Lashkar Gah and Gereshk, have secure industry sites in design and \nunder development by DFID \n• \nBOST Industrial Park (in Lashkar Gah — currently under construction by DFID) is a secure \nlocation sited alongside the runway at BOST airport; supported by the Afghan Investment \nServices Agency \n• \nGereshk IP is alongside the main Afghan arterial highway and 90 minutes drive time from \nPakistan \n• \nState Owned Enterprise in both main towns provide existing industrial sites for exploitation \n• \nRaw product exports already to rest of Afghanistan and Pakistan via Kandahar \n• \nSome initial export testing underway to Dubai; and on pomegranate to Europe, \nCommodity Investment Opportunities \nAgriculture: \n• \nHelmand is a food surplus province with a significant year round production cycle based \non a US/UK funded irrigation system and both industrial and potentially high value crops \nsuitable for processing investment and commoditisation; including \no \nPomegranate and other fruits (grape, almond, apricot, melon) \no \nWheat and other cereals \no \nMung beans, legume (cucumber, tomato, leafy greens, onion, ) \no \nCotton \no \nNuts \no \nCommercial farming partnerships \n• \nThere has been no investment in processing or marketing for 30 years: significant \nopportunities exist to undertake: \no \nWheat milling and other cereal processing \no \nFruit drying, juicing plant \no \nVegetable drying/chilling, processing, packaging \no \nCotton processing and textile production \no \nOil extraction/biofuels \no \nDried nut grading, cleaning and packing \n• \nOpportunities available for immediate investment with processing plant in Cotton, with \nfarm cooperatives, major landowners, Provincial Government, and state farms as willing \npartners; land and other resources available to support investment propositions \n• \nGreenfield investment available at the industrial park at BOST and at Geresk \nMinerals \n• \nSignificant high value mineral deposits; potential for low cost extraction - most land state \nowned with no pre-existing development; potential for industrial production and high value \nniche product processing. Few extractive activities. Deposits include: \no \nMarble (yellow, brown and green onyx) \no \nGold, iridium, lithium, aragonite, lead and zinc \no \nSalt \no \nUranium and Thorium \no \nPossible Oil and gas (none yet proven) \nEFTA01071356\n", "char_count": 2607}, {"efta_number": "EFTA01071356", "page_number": 1, "text_content": "• \nThere has been no investment in mining or extractive technologies and skills for 30 years: \nmarble extraction for example is by simple explosive. \n• \nOpportunity for Mining and joint venture partnerships with a range of agents. \n• \nMinistry of Mines and Minerals already proactive: undertook a promotional event in \nLondon this year \n• \nOil and gas deposits recently proven in North, opportunity for survey work in the South \n• \nHelmand set alongside oil and gas production in Pakistan, Baluchistan and Iran. \nCross Cutting \n• \nHelmand has an opportunity for transport, logistics, warehousing, airport and other supply \nchain investments \n• \nAirport underdeveloped and in need of freight industry development \nSupport System: Foreign Investment and Marketing \nHelmand \n• \nExpert international export marketing, agri-business, agriculture and industrial \ndevelopment resources available locally to facilitate enquiries and visits \n• \nProvincial Government has positive attitude to investment. \nKabul \n• \nThe Afghan Investment Services Agency is available to support investment \n• \nExport Promotion Agency of Afghanistan available to support export projects \n• \nKey Line Ministries committed to use resources to lever support \n• \nAccess to US Embassy/UK Embassy, DFID, USAID, USDA, Danish and other \ninternational resources in Kabul to facilitate on investment and export development \nContact for further information \nJonny Hall \nSenior DFID Representative & Socio-Economic Development Team Leader \nHelmand Provincial Reconstruction Team \nMobile: \nEmail: \nAdrian Green \nDFID Private Sector Development Advisor \nHelmand Provincial Reconstruction Team \nMobile: \nEmail: \nEFTA01071357\n", "char_count": 1682}]}