The Beginning……

• Sumeer Bhasin - NRI Entrepreneur widely traveled and

experienced with setting up and operating business globally
with more than 2 decades of strong business ties and
relationships with Afghans settled abroad especially in the US.
• First trip to Kabul in Aug 2002 on invitation of old time Afghan
friends
• Signs of turmoil and destruction could be seen everywhere
• Opportunity for rebuilding a whole nation from the ground up
in all sectors
• Warm welcome by old Afghan friends and business associates

1
 Birth of Anaar Group
• Decided to focus on service sector considering the logistical
constraints and the core competencies of India in the service
sector
• Set up a consortium to provide technical services to donor
funded projects incl. WB, ADB etc.
• No good restaurants serving Vegetarian Food
• Sensing Opportunity opened Anaar Restaurant in 2002
• Anaar Restaurant immediately became popular among the
afghans and the large expat community
• Customers include UN, World Bank, Embassy of India,
Norwegian Embassy, UK High Commission
• Organised and catered for several prestigious functions
2
 Anaar Group was born….

“One of Kabul’s loveliest restaurants”- Lonely

Planet – Central Asia 2004 Edition – Author’s
Choice
 AIR INDIA - GSA
• Sensing the huge untapped demand for air travel services by the

• Set up Anaar Travels in 2004

• Appointed GSA for Indian Airlines in early 2005

• Trained 20 local staff in all operational function incl. administration, sales,

customer care, passenger handling, baggage handling, ground handling
• Qualified and experienced managerial staff for Sales and Operations from
India

4
Indian Airlines in Kabul
 Anaar Logistics – GSA for Deccan
360
• Launched scheduled Cargo Flight operations
between Delhi –Kabul – Delhi from March
2010
 Afghanistan

• FCm Travel Solutions is a superior global force in strategic

corporate travel and expense management.

• A worldwide team of market leaders delivering exceptional

service, high-value solutions and measurable cost compression.

• Best rates of the day, unprecedented control of travel spend,

online efficiencies, and 24/7 emergency assistance
• Opportunity in Healthcare
• High regard for Indian doctors
• Set up operations for Max Healthcare in 2005
• Information and Facilitation centre to facilitate Afghan patient who need to come to
India for specialized care.
• Cardiologist posted full time in Kabul
• Organized Health Camps in Afghanistan with free check ups & consultation with
specialists from India
• We provide specialized services for evacuation by air in critical cases.
 Anaar Consulting

• Anaar Consulting provides services covering areas such as

media, legal, technical, financial , procurement , transport and
logistics.
• We have a team of professional based in Kabul besides having
a tie-up with well established professional companies in India
who provide specialized support to undertake and provide
services of specialists / consultants as per the requirements of
the projects.
 Event Management

• Organized Sham-e-Ghazal with ZEE Network where Jagjit

Singh – Ghazal King performed for the first time in Kabul in
March 2006
• Event was attended by over 3000 people who were enthralled
by his performance in this unique largest indoor event of its
kind in Kabul
• Historic concert as per Jagjit Singh himself who was deeply
touched by the warmth, love and affection of the Afghan
people
Historic Concert in Kabul

Jagjit Singh performing live in Kabul

 Media
• Considering all the negative media reports about Afghanistan by the Indian Media
focused on terrorism
• Zee TV Programme Full Circle, presented by Frieda Pinto, ( of Slumdog
Millionaire fame) program exclusively designed for Asians in the Asia Pacific. Full
Circle, showcases lifestyles, festivals, culinary skills, exotic locales.
• Organized Production of Full Circle Series on Afghanistan in Oct 2006 for ZEE
NETWORK.
• Shot in locations in Kabul, Paghman, Panjsher Valley, Mazar-e-sharif
• Full Circle series on Afghanistan consisting of 4 episodes was telecast in 13
countries in Asia Pacific region and was re-telecast on popular demand from the
viewers.
 Advisor - AISA

• Advisor Afghanistan Investment Support Agency ( AISA) formed by Presidential

Decree to Promote and facilitate private investment and trade in Afghanistan
• Accompanied H.E. Hamid Karzai, President of Afghanistan on State Visit to India
in April 06 as part of his Business Delegation.
• Played Instrumental role in initiating MoUs between AISA and FICCI and CII
• Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industries ( FICCI)
• Organized several business conferences in India on behalf of AISA in partnership
with CII and FICCI to promote Investment and Trade between India and
Afghanistan
• Organized Trade Missions from Afghanistan to India and one to one meets between
Indian and Afghan business leaders.
 Promoting Investment in Afghanistan

• Business Delegate in European Road Show organized by AISA and German

Chambers of Industries - Feb 2006.
• Represented Afghanistan in AISA North American Investment Promotion
Road Show Oct. 29- Nov. 6, 2006;
• Participated in AACC/ AICC US-Afghan Business Matchmaking
Conference 2006
• Participated in 2nd Regional Economic Conference on Afghanistan and
organized the Business Conference on behalf of AISA in partnership with
FICCI in Nov, 2006.
• Represented Afghanistan in April 2007 in the South Asia CEOs Conference
organized by CII as part of the SAARC( South Asian Association For
Regional Cooperation ) Summit.
 Regional Integration

 
Afghan Delegation attending the South Asia CEO Roundtable (from left to
right): Haifizi, Chairman, AICC; Dr. Farooqi, CEO, AICC; Ms. Kamela
Sediqi, CEO, KBDS; Subodh Bhargava, Chairman of South Asia CEO
Roundtable; Mahmood Kazrai, CEO, AIC and Sumeer Bhasin, Advisor, AISA.
 Highlights
• Look not only at Afghanistan in isolation but also as a gateway to Central Asia.
• Innumerable Regional opportunities as Afghanistan is part of SAARC Region
• Large presence of Indians in Afghanistan in various sectors such as Telecom,
Banking, construction,etc.
• Afghans are very supportive to India and Indians working in Afghanistan
• Close Cultural and Media ties
• Ease of setting up business - AISA
• 100 % Foreign Investment open in most sectors
• Huge opportunity for SMEs
• Sectors – Trade, Agriculture , Healthcare, Media, Infrastructure, Technical Services, Education, Transport
& Logistics, Telecom, Banking , Mining, Energy, Hospitality, Aviation, Tourism
 Conclusion

“ If you are an Entrepreneur with a vision of exploring

untapped opportunities, Afghanistan is open for
business”

His Excellency Hamed Karzai

President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan