Doha, Qatar — The Center for Conflict and Humanitarian Studies (CHS) convened a two-day closed expert meeting on 22–23 September 2026 titled “Supporting Private Sector Development in Afghanistan: Linking Policy and Practical Initiatives". Bringing together Afghan government representatives, private-sector leaders, policymakers, development practitioners and international experts, the meeting focused on identifying practical pathways to increase investment and strengthen private-sector development in Afghanistan.
The meeting drew on a decade of CHS engagement with Afghanistan, bringing policy discussions into closer contact with the practical challenges of private-sector development.
Participants examined the main constraints facing businesses and investors, including limited access to finance, banking sector challenges, and difficulties connecting viable businesses with capital and markets. The discussion identified practical measures that could help address these constraints and increase investment in Afghanistan's private sector. It also explored several modalities for mobilising private-sector investment, including how different financing and investment approaches can be adapted to Afghanistan's economic context. Drawing on participants' experience in policymaking and investment, the discussion highlighted opportunities in agriculture, energy, trade, industrial parks, and transport infrastructure. Participants also linked these opportunities to the financial, institutional, and policy conditions needed to support business growth and employment.
Alongside the expert meeting, CHS organised a public panel discussion on 23 September titled “Private Investment under Constraint: Reflection on the Afghan Experience". The panel featured Jeroen Harteveld, Managing Partner at SIRIO Capital Partners; Nazir Kabiri, Chairman of the Board at Biruni Institute; and Noor Alam Hakimyar, Chief of Strategy and Growth at Gulzad Group. Moderated by Kareem Elgibali of CHS, the panel considered lessons from investment experiences in Afghanistan and other countries, including which elements of different investment ecosystems could be adapted to the Afghan context.
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