DATES: September 2012 - December 2013
Solid legal protections for businesses are a critical part of the foundation for long-term economic growth. Afghanistan’s legal regime for commerce is currently underdeveloped; commercial laws are poorly written and inconsistently applied, while the country lacks skilled lawyers and judges needed to argue and adjudicate commercial cases. USAID’s Commercial Law Development Program (CLDP) is a vital step towards improving the legal environment for business in Afghanistan. The program consists of four components, each designed to address a specific gap while complementing the others. The Commercial Law Education Initiative works with universities to improve the capacity of commercial law education for students, business people, and government leaders. The Commercial Law Implementation component advises the Afghan Government, primarily the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, and the Afghan business community on the implementation of legal reforms to support entrepreneurship and business growth. The Arbitration Development component works with the Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce to develop alternative dispute resolution mechanisms that resolve business disputes without resorting to legal action. The Commercial Officer/Investment Promotion Development component works to improve business relations with foreign partners.