OVERVIEW

The MELRA program provides policy-level assistance to Government of Afghanistan ministries and other entities to improve the country’s business enabling environment and create business opportunities for private sector growth. The program requires its Afghan partners to demonstrate their commitment to ensure the success of suggested reforms under the MELRA program.

The program hires U.S Government experts to provide high -level policy and legal advice in the following areas, which are essential to fostering economic growth: Trade Compliance and Negotiations, Information Communications Technology (ICT) Development, Mining Laws, Regulations, and Contractual Framework; Corruption-free Customs for Air Cargo Exports, and Business Enabling Environment.

ACTIVITIES

• Provide legal and policy advice to Afghan Government on minerals law, regulations and model contract
• Collaborate with President’s Office on formulation of regulations to support implementation of minerals law and insolvency law
• Provide skills training to the Ministry of Mines and Petroleum and Afghanistan Geological Survey (AGS) staff in collaboration with the United States Geological Survey (USGS) and the Colorado School of Mines (CSM)
• Provide technical assistance to the Ministry of Communication and IT in support of implementing the Open Access Policy
• Provide technical assistance to the Ministry of Industry and Commerce in support of country compliance with World Trade Organization (WTO) rules and regulations
• Support the private sector with export-led economic growth through joint venture, investment and trade facilitation programs

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

• Made significant contributions to the new minerals law, mining regulations, and draft model contract, which is expected to facilitate private sector investment in extractives sector
• Facilitated progress on Open Access Policy, which will lead to increased private investment in the ICT sector
• Provided advisory services to Afghanistan Customs Department (ACD) in support of finalization of a five-year Action Plan and Anti-Corruption Strategy
• Provided business matchmaking support to top Afghan companies to facilitate joint ventures between businesses in Afghanistan and other countries
• Supported the Afghanistan judicial sector in implementation of the newly approved companies’ law and insolvency law
• After 18 months of CLDP technical support, the Afghan Center for Dispute Resolution began offering commercial arbitration services in January 2019
• Delivered several skills training workshops, as well as a comprehensive training manual, to a delegation of MoMP and AGS officials, which have increased technical and legal knowledge and MoMP capacity