Afghan contractors learn procedure for projects

NANGARHAR PROVINCE, Afghanistan – Peace Dividend Trust conducted a class on the process of military procurement for local Afghan contractors at Forward Operating Base Fenty in eastern Afghanistan’s Nangarhar province, Jan. 20 through 22.

PDT, an organization dedicated to providing Afghan workers with better opportunities, worked with U.S. forces to provide the free class to local contractors, giving them the training necessary to obtain contracts for International Security Assistance Force projects.

Rawajuddin Dakhunda, a senior procurement trainer for PDT, was one of the class instructors. He explained that to get a contract from ISAF paperwork must be filled out in English, which makes it difficult for local businesses to fully understand the process.

“Lots of companies are good at practical work, but have trouble getting the actual contract,” Dakhunda said.

Dakhunda explained that classes like this help both parties, because it allows more contracting companies to receive projects and allows ISAF to find the most qualified companies for those projects.

Dakhunda also mentioned that it allows more money to be brought into the local economy and improves the standard of living in Jalalabad.

According to Dakhunda, 22 representatives from local contracting companies attended the class.

U.S. Army Maj. Jesse K. Griffith, a Seneca, S.C., native and a contracting officer at the Regional Contracting Center for FOB Fenty, said he appreciated the local contractors’ willingness to take part in the class, and that it was going to help the local economy.

“It’s going to help build better commerce, better business practice, and it’s also going to help some new companies get a start in the business community,” he said.

Additionally, many of the contractors attending the training felt it would help their businesses in the future.

Tariq Aziz Muhib, a class attendee and contractor for Muhibsons material supply and logistics, echoed many of the statements repeated by the contractors attending the training.

“I’m a newcomer and didn’t know anything about contracting before,” he said. “I am so thankful to the PDT for starting the training for us.”