After more than 22 years in Pakistan, miller Haji Ghulam Muhaiddin is delighted to be home. Home is Kunduz, Afghanistan, where he has finally realized his dream of owning a business and practicing his trade in his native land.

Haji Ghulam wanted to build a badly needed new flour mill for this major wheat-producing region. Despite having capital of his own to invest, Haji Ghulam encountered a number of obstacles, many of them related to Afghan regulations. Fortunately, he heard about ShoreBank Advisory Service’s USAID-supported work with the Rebuilding Agricultural Markets Program. ShoreBank not only facilitated a $350,000 loan for working capital from the Afghanistan International Bank, it also helped the Haji obtain import tax exemptions for his milling equipment, establish contacts for market development, and create a solid business plan.

The new mill will employ 60 Afghans, serve 6,000 farmers, and grind 200 metric tons of wheat daily. It will also contribute to the rejuvenation of Afghanistan's agricultural infrastructure by making wheat farming an attractive alternative to poppy growing. Haji Ghulam is grateful for the help he received from ShoreBank. "Many thanks for your assistance," he says.

ShoreBank pursues the same mission overseas that guides it at home: helping businesses succeed so they can help create strong, healthy communities.