Assisting in rebuilding Afghanistan, Afghan-American businessman Dr. Ehsan Bayat utilized his entrepreneurial skills to establish two firms that arguably have changed the future of the country. Connecting citizens in all 34 provinces through wireless communications, television, and radio, he provides information and education on the nation’s progress, world news, women’s issues, health concerns, and other topics. A native of Kabul, Dr. Ehsan Bayat moved to the United States in 1980; there, he completed his education and built a successful career as an entrepreneur. He watched in sadness as Afghanistan underwent two decades of strife under the Taliban regime. After the regime had been deposed and U.S. sanctions lifted, he began his efforts to rebuild the nation.

Dr. Ehsan Bayat founded Telephone Systems International in 1998 and launched Afghan Wireless Communication Company (AWCC) in 2002. The affordable Global System for Mobile Communications network connects more than 3 million subscribers, even in the most remote provinces of Afghanistan, through cellular telephones and the Internet. Dr. Ehsan Bayat acts as Chairman of AWCC, which also provides roaming capabilities with more than 326 operators in nearly 120 countries, eliminating the isolation on which despots thrive.

In 2005, Dr. Ehsan Bayat established Ariana Television and Radio Network, which has grown to become the nation’s largest. The media outlet’s broadcasts reach remote areas of the country and even Afghan communities in Pakistan. Offerings news in English, Pashtu, and Dari so that all viewers can comprehend the broadcasts, the signals enter the homes of more than 25 million Afghans and also reach a worldwide audience via satellite. Under Dr. Ehsan Bayat’s direction, approximately 25 percent of the programming focuses on education, including basic business skills, computer and language training, and children’s shows. In addition to these companies, the altruistic businessman founded the Bayat Foundation, which works to empower people through supporting and promoting economic prosperity, social justice, health care, education, and familial strength.