Mr. Hamed Minhaj Managing Director of Hamed Baba Ltd called on Syed Azmin Syed Nor Director of Tradewind a public listed Malaysian company at his office. Mr. Hamed briefed them of the business opportunities of different sectors in Afghanistan. Mr. Hamed advised them of his intention to start a strong business relationship with their sugar division to export sugar to Afghanistan.

Mr. Syed Azmin Syed Nor assured him of his support to see that the deal will materialize at the soonest. Mr. Syed advised Mr. Hamed to start with a moderate quantity to familiarize the sugar business export to Afghanistan.

Mr. Syed Azmin Syed Nor advised humanitarian activities for the people of Afghanistan. He has high respect for the hospitality and principal of the Pashtun people, the biggest tribe in the world.

At the end of the meeting, Mr. Hamed presented Mr. Syed a brief summary of the business opportunities in Afghanistan to be passed on to Tan Sri Syed Mokhtar Shah bin Syed Nor Al-Bukhary. Mr. Hamed was impressed by their friendly manner, humbleness and charity works that they have done around the world.

Mr. Hamed Minhaj called on Datuk Mohd Hashim Hassan Chairman and Mr. Mohd Fauzi Rahmat Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer of EXIM Bank, Malaysia. Mr. Hamed briefed them on the trade opportunities in Afghanistan and also Hamed Baba’s business activities. Presently, Hamed Baba importing 80% of their goods from Malaysia into Afghanistan. Mr. Hamed would like to see his company to double the growth rate of his business with Malaysia as he sees Malaysian exporter as reputable and well known in the international trade.

He advised EXIM bank to play an active role in financing the trade between Afghanistan and Malaysia. Most of the Malaysian exporters have the capability to achieve a higher export rate to Afghanistan but lack of financing from the Malaysian banks hampering the effort. Datuk Mohd Hashim Hassan Chairman assured Mr. Hamed that EXIM Bank already in the process of allocating a budget to finance the trade activities between Malaysia and Afghanistan. Mr. Hamed thank Datuk Mohd Hashim Hassan and Mr. Mohd Fauzi Rahmat for their commitment and support. Mr. Hamed assured them of his full support to foster a better relationship between Malaysian and Afghans.

Mr. Hamed Minhaj Managing Director of Hamed Baba called on Tan Sri Mohamed Basir bin Ahmad Chairman of Malayan Banking Berhad to discuss potential of setting up a Maybank branch in Afghanistan. And also Mr. Hamed recommended to Maybank to have a correspondence relationship with Kabul Bank the biggest bank in Afghanistan.

At the moment, Malaysia has a large export to Afghanistan especially palm oil products, alone estimated to be 1200 containers per month. Payment either was done thru Letter of Credit or TT thru Dubai banks not counting hawalal type of payment which runs into US Dollar hundred millions of trade per year.

Mr. Hamed advise Maybank to tap into this huge potential and establish itself in Afghanistan by being the first correspondence bank with Kabul bank from Malaysia.

In addition, Mr. Hamed stressed that Afghanistan Government and people sees Malaysia as a friendly face and encourage Malaysian businessmen to invest in the oil and gas, mining and construction sectors. A few studies confirmed that Afghanistan has one of the biggest reserve in natural gas and iron ore in the world. To faciliate such investment, a Malaysian business entities need the presence of a Malaysian bank in Afghanistan. He also advised Malaysian businessmen not to judge Afghanistan business environment based on media reports.

Tan Sri Mohamed Basir added that Maybank will look into the matter urgently as a correspondence bank with Kabul Bank. As for setting up a branch in Afghanistan, he shall consider opportunity with further studies to be done. Mr. Hamed assured Tan Sri Mohamed Basir of his full support on that matter.

MIHAS 2009, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia May 8, 2009– In conjunction with the world’s largest Halal Exhibition held in MATRADE, Hamed Baba Limited was presented a distributorship right by Etika Dairies Sdn Bhd to market Sweetened Condensed Milk under Dairy Champ or any OEM brands in Afghanistan. Dairy Champ is one of the famous brand in the Malaysia. Executive Director of Mr. Khor of Etika Beverage handed over the agreement to Managing Director Mr. Hamed Minhaj during the ceremony.

Mr. Khor explained that Malaysia has a population of 27 million and condensed milk consumption per month is 1 million cartons of 48x505gms tin. With Afghanistan population of 33 million July 2008 est, roughly estimated of the conservative figure around 500,000 cartons which come to at least 50 containers 20 footer per month. Sweetened Condensed Milk mainly used in hot and cold beverages, confectionery and dessert. Hamed Baba targetting to capture at least 20% of the market.

Hamed Baba shall invest USD50,000 in the promotion and advertising of the condensed milk to build the awareness of the brands to the public. Promotion and advertising will go through the media such as TV, radio, billboards, pamphlets, cooking show, etc. Hamed Baba will introduce a popular drink in Malaysia known as “Teh Tarik” consists mainly tea and condensed milk to the Afghanistan people. To boost up the popularity, Hamed Baba intend to get endorsement of the drink from Dr. Mahathir, a well known ex Prime Minister of Malaysia. Dr. Mahathir is a well known figure in Afghanistan.

MIHAS 2009, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia May 8, 2009– In conjunction with the world’s largest Halal Exhibition held in MATRADE, Hamed Baba Limited was presented a distributorship right by Etika Beverage Sdn Bhd to market Air Bull Energy Drinks in Afghanistan. Executive Director of Mr. Khor of Etika Beverage handed over the agreement to Managing Director Mr. Hamed Minhaj during the ceremony.

Mr. Hamed commented that there is a huge untapped market in Afghanistan in food and beverage products sector and proudly informed that he is the first one to import energy drinks into Afghanistan origin from Malaysia. A few brands like Red Bull and Cartier from other countries already in the market. Hamed Baba hope to achieve at least a turnover of USD1 million for the Energy Drinks annually.

He pointed that Afghanistan can be a transit point for distribution of products to nearby countries such as Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Pakistan, Iran and China Xinjiang. Hamed Baba looking forward to expand to other beverages other than energy drinks alone.

Wamata Corporation is to cooperate together with local partners to re-develop urban and rural areas. Despite the ongoing war, we believed our venture and investment in Afghanistan will be able to create jobs and improve livelihood of Afghanistan people. We would be privileged to be the first Malaysian company investing in Afghanistan projects as we are confident that the war is long over due for peaceful negotiations for the benefit of all.

Wamata Corporation was incorporated on 3rd January 1981 in Malaysia as a civil and building development organization. We possess a class “A” license from Contractors Coordination Service Centre, a body set up by the Malaysian Government to authorize our company to tender or bid for multi million mega development projects. In these 28 years, we are proud to inform that we have contributed into the development of rural and urban government and private projects such as school, mosque, colleges, residential, factories, rural roads, highways and railway projects.

We place great emphasis on integrity and responsibility in our services and have successfully undertaken various construction projects to the complete satisfaction of our customers. Our pledge is to establish lasting relationships with our customers by exceeding their expectations and gaining their trust through exceptional performance by every member of the construction team. We have the experience working with several well established foreign companies who have sought the cooperation of Wamata Corporation and its associated companies to participate jointly in the tender of specialized works especially in areas related to city planning, transportation development, etc.

Hamed Baba secured the second license to build a Edible Oil Refinery in Afghanistan. The refinery will have the capacity to refine up to 600 mt of crude edible oil per day. Hamed Baba plan to import majority of palm oil for refining and also will have the capability to crush soybean, sunflower, cotton, etc sourcing from farmers locally. The final location of the factory yet to be finalized but this is going to be biggest refining capacity in Afghanistan once it is ready. Total investment estimated to be around USD20 million.