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阿富汗企业迎难而上

As international troops prepare to leave Afghanistan in 2014, some businesses and aid groups are looking to curb¹ their investments in the country. But others are planning to expand, despite the uncertainty². Bethany Matta reports from Kabul.

在国际部队准备于2014年离开阿富汗之际，一些商业和援助团体也准备大大缩减他们在阿富汗的投资。不过，其他商家却计划扩大投资，尽管阿富汗充满了不确定性。

Even for those Afghans who are not anxious about the security situation when foreign troops withdraw, 2014 still creates anxiety when it comes to businesses and the economy.

即使是那些对外国军队撤出后的安全局势并不感到担忧的阿富汗人，在谈到商业和经济问题时，还是对2014年感到忧虑不安。

Afghanistan's economy grew around 11 percent last year, but the expected decline in military and civilian³ aid and uncertain security situation makes some investors⁴ wary⁵.

去年，阿富汗经济增长了大约11%，但随着军事和民间援助减少，以及安全局势的不确定性，这一切都使一些投资者不得不谨慎小心。

Abass, a local store owner, said "When people say 2014 is going to be a dangerous year, in my view, nothing will happen. But, as far as 2014 goes for business, it (will) have an impact on trade and business."

阿巴斯是当地一家商店的店主。他说：“人们说2014年将是危险的一年，依我看，什么也不会发生。不过从做生意的角度来看，2014年贸易和商业或受到影响。”

Despite worries about the security situation and the capability⁶ of the government, many businesses are planning to expand - such as Coca Cola, with its line of Minute Maid juices.

尽管人们对安全局势和政府的能力感到担忧，许多企业却在准备扩张，比如可口可乐公司就计划扩大“美粒果”果汁的生产。

The company wants to invest millions more to increase capacity, but land is a problem. The factory and parking lot are already used for storage.

可口可乐公司准备投资数百万美元来提高产能，但土地是个问题。工厂和停车场已经被用作仓库。

East Horizon also faces its own difficulties, but land is not one of them. They've taken their investment to the skies.

东地平线航空公司也面临着本身的困难，尽管没有土地问题。他们的投资在天上。

The airline, opening just four months ago, already has seven routes.

仅仅4个月前刚刚开始运行的这家公司，目前已经开通了7条航线。

Flights to Bamiyan, where it is hard to travel the road because of insecurity, are usually full. In another month the airline will be adding two more planes and additional routes.

飞往巴米扬的航班经常客满，原因是那里局势不稳定，陆路旅行很困难。一个月以后，这家航空公司将再增加两架飞机和其它的飞行线路。

East Horizon's chief executive and captain, Jahed Azimi, says Afghanistan needs flights to remote provinces to create business opportunities and development.

东地平线航空公司的首席行政长官阿兹米说，阿富汗需要通往边远省份的航线，来创造商机和发展。

"We see that there will be some potential, of course the road is not that easy.  But, our board of directors and myself we decided⁷ that Afghans should stand on their feet and do their job by themselves," he said.

他说：“我们认为空中航线颇有潜力，这当然是因为陆路旅行不容易。但是我们董事会和我自己都认为，阿富汗人应该自力更生。”

More than a decade of foreign assistance has a mixed track record in Afghanistan, where basic security remains⁸ the biggest concern.

超过10年的外国援助，在阿富汗毁誉参半。在阿富汗，基本的安全仍然是首要关注。

But advertising⁹ consultant¹⁰ Mustafa Mirza says there is rich and growing market for some consumer goods that did not even exist several years ago.

但是广告咨询顾问米尔扎指出，一些消费品的市场增长强劲，这在几年前根本不存在。

"I don't think anything will happen in the private sector¹¹, like if you go out in Kabul you've got super stores like 'Finest' and 'Spinneys,' you can get cat food for example. There was no concept of cat food two or three years ago, but now its like the shelves are full and there is a big inventory¹² of quality food products," he said.

他说：我认为，在私营领域，什么都不会发生。你到喀布尔去看看，那里有像‘Finest’和‘Spinneys’的超市，你在那里能买到猫食。而两、三年前根本没有猫食的概念，但是现在货架上满都是猫食，这里优质食品的库存十分充足。”

Cat food, energy drinks , 3G Internet … all  products Afghans have been exposed to the last decade are not likely to go away when the troops leave. This year's strong harvest season means consumers should have more money to spend in the months ahead.

猫食、能量饮料、3G互联网 … … 所有这些阿富汗人在过去10年接触的产品，都不可能在军队撤走后消失。今年强劲的收获季节意味着，消费者在未来几个月可支配的钱更多。

So, although some companies and organizations cut back or cut out altogether, others are taking risks on an Afghan-led economy.

因此，虽然一些公司和组织在削减或完全终止投资，但其他企业却愿意冒险赌一把阿富汗人主导的经济。