ArmorGroup International plc, the provider of protective security and security training, reports that its Afghanistan base is officially open.
Anjuman Base at Kariyai Khoya Rawash, on the outskirts of Kabul, was officially opened by Dr Omar Zakhilwal, Director of the Afghanistan Investment Support Agency. The opening of Anjuman, one of the country’s first commercial security facilities, was also attended by the Rt Hon Sir Malcolm Rifkind KCMG QC, ArmorGroup’s non-executive chairman.
Afghanistan represents a significant market for ArmorGroup, the company reports, which has around 600 staff providing close protection teams on behalf of officials from the UK’s Foreign & Commonwealth Office and Department for International Development. In the longer term, the international community has pledged around $10.5 billion over the next five years to assist in the reconstruction of the country, the improvement of its security and the realignment of its economy away from narcotics production.
To meet these opportunities and the growing needs of its clients, ArmorGroup invested around US$3m in construction of Anjuman Base to accommodate staff and clients, besides visiting government and corporate officials, in what the company terms a highly secure and comfortable environment. The base can hold up to 300 visitors and from it ArmorGroup is able to offer: a fast track, protected service through Kabul airport; offices and classrooms; a 24/7 operations centre; training facilities, including a driver-training area; and a purpose built medical clinic.
Dave Seaton, Chief Executive Officer of ArmorGroup, interviewed in the August print issue of Professional Security, said: “We are very pleased that the Deputy Interior Minister has found the time to open our new base at Anjuman. We believe ArmorGroup is the leading security provider of choice in Afghanistan, with three and a half years of proven on-the-ground experience in the country, operating throughout Kabul, Kandahar and Helmand province as well as the North East and Western parts of the country. We are proud of the work that we are carrying out to support the redevelopment of Afghanistan and hope this will be a springboard for further investment in the country.”
