Photo By Staff Sgt. Stacey Haga | Several construction companies that are part of the Afghanistan Builders Association...... read more read more
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KABUL, Afghanistan – It is essential to have a good foundation when building a house. The same goes for building a country like Afghanistan. The crucial difference is the foundation for Afghanistan is not just wood, steal or concrete, but those who make those elements and assemble them together.
Many of the country’s buildings were destroyed during the last several decades, so a robust construction industry has been needed to erect buildings for Afghanistan’s new security forces, government agencies and other organizations responsible for the rebuilding of the country.
“We need a viable, strong construction industry in this country,” said Col. Tom Magness, commander, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Afghanistan Engineer District – North, during a conference held June 10 in the capital city of Kabul.
This is where USACE comes in with a daunting task of building hundreds of buildings, hiring construction companies, and guiding Afghans in developing an association to regulate the booming construction industry in Afghanistan, called the Afghanistan Builders Association.
The ABA is a non-profit, non-governmental trade organization chartered to be an advocate for the builders in Afghanistan, educating them, establishing standards and being a source of information for the builders. It also aims to enhance the integrity and visibility of the construction industry in Afghanistan, just as builders associations do around the world.
“The ABA is still at a premature stage,” said Mowdood Popal, ABA vice president, during the conference where a plan for the ABA over the next 3 to 5 years was laid out.
Regardless of its newness, the ABA, which started out with 20 members, has shown much progress since its inception in 2004.
Representing small and large construction, heavy machinery, building supply and material companies, the ABA has about 500 members, both national and international, and aims to increase their membership by 20% each year in the near future.
The ABA, with the help of USACE, U.S. Agency for International Development and Afghan National Standards Authority, is also paving the way for a new development – a private sector in Afghanistan’s construction industry.
Prior to U.S. forces entering Afghanistan, all construction contracts were controlled by the government, regardless of size, said Popal.
Although the majority of construction contracts now come from USACE, it is important for ABA to regulate the private sector to ensure contracts, accounting, building standards and safety protocol are adhered to, which will build the capacity of the construction industry in Afghanistan, added Popal.
That capacity is also being supported by the amount of new construction companies in Afghanistan.
Many of these new companies are awarded contracts according to their abilities and under the guidance of ABA and USACE given the opportunity to become reputable builders that build structures according to standards set by USACE and ABA.
On average, approximately 50 percent of the contracts awarded annually by USACE are awarded to Afghan companies. The annual sum of the total contracts recently reached multi-billion dollar status, said Magness.
USACE is projected to transition out of Afghanistan in late 2014, as they guide the ABA into a primary role along the way.
While the ABA faces many challenges as it looks toward Afghanistan’s transition period – a new government, unpredictable economy, limited resources and other challenges commonly faced by new organizations, the ABA and USACE leadership are optimistic about the ABA’s future.
The ABA has demonstrated strengths – leadership, size, wide-spread, quick communication and education – that will help them progress in the future, said Assad Mattin, ABA senior adviser.
“I think they have come a long way, but they got a long way to go,” said Magness.
As the country and the ABA continues to take their future into their own hands and work toward the 2014 transition timeline, the ABA is able to look ahead and figure out what is next, what is the next big build, such as the trillions of dollars in mineral wealth, and how it can position the industry to be ready for it, said Magness.
The ABA and USACE are also bolstering Afghanistan’s economy by certifying local building supplies to USACE standards. This is so Afghan-made products can be used in USACE projects, instead of importing the supplies from other countries. Today, 49 manufacturers are certified in Afghanistan, with 23 more awaiting certification in the near future.
“Standardization is a big step,” said Magness. “It’s also thinking forward.”
“I am very proud,” said Naeem Yassin, ABA president, of his organization. “We have a good relationship with USACE, USAID, and we have a good relationship with the Afghan government.”
Those relationships, accompanied by the ABA’s strengths, passion and forward thinking will be needed for continued progression and transition into 2014 and beyond – because it takes a firm foundation to build a country.
| Date Taken: | 06.09.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 06.11.2011 01:02 |
| Story ID: | 71924 |
| Location: | KABUL, AF |
| Web Views: | 118 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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