The American Chamber of Commerce has opened an office in Kabul, aiming to show investors that there is money to be made in Afghanistan, despite its security problems and corruption. At a lunch in Kabul's five-star Serena hotel on Thursday, US ambassador Karl Eikenberry chatted with a former Central Bank governor and businesspeople working in bottled water, logistics and commercial law.
More unusually for a Chamber of Commerce gathering, the speeches included praise for the role of the aid sector, a reminder of the challenges Afghanistan still faces as it attempts to rebuild the economy after decades of conflict.