Here's how you know
 **Official websites use .mil** .mil
 **Secure .mil websites use HTTPS** lock () https://


Skip to main content (Press Enter).
 Toggle navigation
            
            
            
            
            National Guard
                        Always Ready Always There
                    National Guard
            
            Search National Guard:
                        Search
                    Search
                        Search National Guard:
                            Search
    Home

    News
    
        Guard News

    Overseas Operations

    State Partnership Program

    News Features

    RSS Feeds

    Press Releases

    Transcripts

    Features
    
        Features by Year

    Posture Statement

    State Partnership Program

    Special Features

    About the Guard
    
        How We Began

    Air National Guard

    Army National Guard    
    
        DEERS Soldier Journey

    Leader Development Program

    History and Heritage

    I am the Guard

    NGB Official March

    Leadership
    
        CNGB

    VCNGB

    SEA

    DANG

    DARNG

    Joint Staff    
    
        J-1

    J-2

    J-3

    J-4

    J-5

    J-6

    J-7

    J-8

    Personal Staff    
    
        Inspector General

    General Counsel    
    
        Special Victims Counsel

    Public Affairs

    Executive Support Services

    Legislative Liaison

    Special Staff    
    
        Office of the Provost Marshal

    Office of the Joint Surgeon

    Director of Acquisitions

    Small Business Programs

    Chaplain

    Senior Leader Management Office

    Diversity Equity Inclusion

    Comptroller

    Resources    
        National Defense Strategy Implementation Guidance

    Community Engagement

    FOIA

    Fact Sheets

    Helpful Links

    Image Gallery
    
        News Images

    Graphics

    Historical Paintings

    Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

    Legislative Liaison

    Small Business Programs

    Social Media

    State Websites

    Videos    
    
        Featured Videos

    On Every Front

    2019 Videos

    2020 Videos

    2021 Videos

    Suicide Prevention

    Family Programs

    Environmental

    Trial Defense Service

    Holistic Wellness Challenge

    Contact Us  Home
  News
  Overseas Operations
 
 Download
 Details
 Share
 NEWS
 Iowa ADT finds Asadabad merchants better off than five years ago By Capt. Peter Shinn
                Combined Joint Task Force 101
 ASADABAD, Afghanistan, - Members of the Iowa National Guard’s 734th Agribusiness Development Team found that 24 of 25 shopkeepers surveyed in Asadabad, Dec. 2 were better off or much better off than they were five years ago, and all paid taxes, though a majority thought they were too high. Additionally, all of the shopkeepers in the provincial capital of Kunar said they would contact a government official to address pressing concerns, though opinions on the quality of government services were mixed. None surveyed identified security as a problem and all described the security situation as good or excellent. One of the shopkeepers the ADT surveyed was Nuuora, a merchant who sells seed, fertilizer and other items. His complaint with the government sounded not unlike those of businessmen everywhere. “I pay 4,800 afghanis [$106] per year in taxes, and they can’t even keep this canal clean,” Nuuora said, gesturing at the foot-wide gutter in front of his open storefront. Nevertheless, Nuuora, who has two wives and 13 children, conceded he was much better off than just a few years ago, when he was a refugee in Afghanistan. Nuuora’s experience was not unique among the Asadabad merchants surveyed, the majority of whom fled Afghanistan during the Taliban’s rule and returned within just the last few years. The ADT surveyed a wide range of business owners, from a hand tool dealer, to a sewing machine repair and sale concern, a women and children’s clothing boutique, a high-end jewelry store, a wholesale fruit and vegetable market, a hand-made custom furniture shop and many more. U.S. Army Capt. Pat Birgy, the ADT’s finance officer, organized the Asadabad market survey, the second by the ADT in as many months. “Our first time out, we were mainly looking at food prices, sources and availability,” Birgy said. “This time, we wanted to take a more broad approach and find out more about how business actually works here.” Birgy admitted to being surprised by the diversity of goods available for sale in Asadabad, and by some of the survey responses, too. Moreover, said Birgy, the information gleaned from the survey will positively impact his work in mentoring the provincial budget director. “There is no doubt there is a very, very vibrant business sector here, with a lot of economic activity, more than I think any of us thought,” Birgy said. “I wasn’t expecting to find a functional tax system already in place but clearly, there is, and now I can sit down with the finance directorate to get a better idea of what that system is and we can go from there.” The ADT’s deputy commander, U.S. Army Lt. Col. Dave Lewis, took part in the Asadabad business survey. He also is a key leader of the ADT’s initiative to mentor Kunar provincial officials of the government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan. “This survey really shows that the provincial government is doing a lot of things right already,” Lewis said. “It gives us better situational awareness as we interact with our counterparts in the Afghan government.”
 SHARE
 PRINT
 North Carolina Guard Welcomes New Zambian State Partnership State Partnership Program • yesterday
 Vermont Army Guard Soldiers Attend Brazilian Mountain School Overseas Operations • yesterday
 Idaho Air Guard Conducts Panther Shadow Exercise Guard News • yesterday
 Guard Leaders Stress NCOs Role in State Partnership Program State Partnership Program • yesterday
 Massachusetts Guard Helps Host Crisis Leadership Seminar Guard News • 2 days ago
 2024 (15)  2023 (57)  2022 (71)  2021 (58)  2020 (41)  2019 (56)  2018 (55)  2017 (46)  2016 (31)  2015 (36)  2014 (48)  2013 (64)  2012 (134)  2011 (163)  2010 (179)
 Home
 Site Map
 Privacy & Security Policy
 Link Disclaimer
 Web Policy
 DOD Information Quality
 DOD Open GovernmentFOIA
 No FEAR Act
 Accessibility/Section 508
 Contact Us
 Army Guard Careers
 Air Guard Careers
 USA.gov
                    
Staying Connected
    XYouTubeFlickrFacebookInstagram
                 
                
                

Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil