Businesses Building Bridges for Afghanistan

U.S. Businesses Supporting Afghan Entrepreneurs

“These business leaders are going to lead private sector assistance in training and mentoring Afghan entrepreneurs in attracting future foreign investments and in leading business delegations to Afghanistan so that as the infrastructure and the economy grow, that it has a healthy private sector element to that growth.”

--Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, January 30, 2006

What Is the “Businesses Building Bridges” Initiative?

On January 30, 2006, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and President Hamid Karzai introduced the "Businesses Building Bridges" (BBB) initiative to highlight the importance of the private sector in the reconstruction of Afghanistan. The Businesses Building Bridges initiative is designed to tap the knowledge, creativity, vision and good will of high-level American business leaders. It will bring together a select group of business leaders who can provide strategic vision and guidance to Afghan leaders on how best to activate private sector growth in Afghanistan. Over the course of one year, Businesses Building Bridges' leaders will develop a detailed set of recommendations for Afghan leaders on ways to support and promote the private sector. We also expect the group to develop partnership and mentoring links with Afghan business leaders, paving the way for future foreign investment and U.S. business involvement in the country.