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Showing posts from April, 2017

For the first time in over 40 years of conflict, peace talks between the Afghan government and a militant group achieve success

Peace talks between Afghan government and Hizb-e-Islami Afghanistan (HIA) have finally come to fruition after a very long delay, with HIA leader, Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, delivering his first public speech to his supporters in eastern Laghman province. Hekmatyar stressed he has come back home with a message of peace, calling on the Taliban to join the peace process for the interests of people because no one can rule the country by force. Criticizing the neighboring countries for interfering in Afghan affairs, the HIA leader said Afghans themselves have paved the way for such interference. This is the first time in about half of a century of Afghan conflict that peace talks between the government and a militant group end up in success; therefore, it should be welcome regardless of the level of its impact on the situation in the country. As a dawn of peace, the reconciliation of Hekmatyar with the government has been described by most Afghans as a good omen, with the hope that other militan...

Asian Development Bank (ADB) pledges USD 300 million for Afghanistan’s infrastructure development

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has pledged to provide USD 300 million to support infrastructure projects in Afghanistan. According to ADB officials, reconstruction of highways and building a solar power generation facility in eastern Nangarhar province are part of the projects.ADB Country Director Mr. Panella said the solar park in Nangarhar will generate between 20 - 30 megawatts of electricity. The Afghan Deputy Minister of Energy and Water of Afghanistan, H.E. Amanullah Ghalib, said the project would help immensely with power shortage problem in the province. “The project costs USD 50mn and the Asian Development Bank will also help us in technical assessments of the project,” said Ghalib. ADB also promised a grant of USD 878 million in aid and assistance to Afghanistan’s development projects for the next four years at the Brussels conference last year. The amount is expected to be used in transport, energy and mining sectors.

Iran provides USD 66 billion loans to mining, industry and trade sectors

Iran has reportedly allocated loans amounting to over $66 billion to the mining, industry and trade sectors in the year just finished. Mohammad Reza Nematzadeh, Minister of Industry, Mines, and Trade of Iran, was quoted as saying that USD 46 billion in banking facilities were earmarked for mining and industry sectors while over USD 20 billion were extended to the trade sector last year. He added the figures were up 32 per cent and 26 per cent respectively against the figures for the previous year. >>> SOURCE : Trade Arabia

There are indications that Trump is also on the path to repeat in Afghanistan the mistake of his predecessor

Foreign troop surge cannot resolve Afghan conflict. While the Trump administration’s new policy on Afghanistan remains unclear, there are indications that Trump is also on the path to repeat the mistake of his predecessor. The attitude of both the Afghan government and the United States suggests that the US troop level may increase in Afghanistan. Made by President Obama, this was the very mistake that did not help improve correct the situation in the country. After the visit of Trump’s National Security Advisor H.R. McMaster, Defense Secretary Gen. James Mattis is the second US official who paid a visit to Afghanistan in less than two weeks. The apparent goal of the visit of McMaster and Mattis is to assess the situation of Afghanistan – in other words, to determine how many additional American troops are needed. Although neither of them announced the decision about troop surge, the posture of US and Afghan governments indicates both are willing to uphold the troop surge. The troop ...

"Afghanistan needs a strong central government… We should put an end to imposed leadership; we should have elected leaders”: Gulbuddin Hekmatyar

In his first public speech today after coming out of long hiding, Hizb-i-Islami leader Gulbuddin Hekmatyar voiced support for peaceful transition of power in Afghanistan. “No bullet should be fired, no drop of blood should be shed for transition of power in Afghanistan,” Hekmatyar told a gathering of local civilian and military officials and ordinary people in eastern Laghman province. “Afghanistan needs a strong central government… We should put an end to imposed leadership; we should have elected leaders,” Hekmatyar said. Hekmatyar returned to public life after he signed a peace deal with the government in September last year that included removal of his name from U.N. blacklist and release of its prisoners. He is accused by rights groups of war crimes during 1990s civil war. Around 70 of its prisoners are due to be released from Pul-i-Charkhi prison in Kabul today Saturday. In his address to the Taliban ‘brothers’ whom he backed after their toppling in 2001, Hekmatyar invited ...

Access to quality health care improving in Northern Afghanistan

Balkh Province, Norther Afghanistan.  Winter announces itself with a soft snowfall. The sidewalks are empty but some people walk across the yard of a hospital. Inside the hospital, one can hear whispers of congratulations - it is a special day for Bibi Sediqa, she has just become a grandmother.  “Luckily for the first time my daughter’s child survived. She had always lost her child immediately after birth. I just thank God for having a good hospital and doctors,”   the beaming grandmother says. Bibi Sediqa, 60yo, is one of many happy faces in the Khulm District Hospital (DH). She came with her daughter from Bay Mohammad village in Khulm district in Balkh Province. A bukhari (wood-fueled heater) warms the neonatal and obstetrics section, which houses new mothers and women in labor. Bibi Sediqa sits close to her daughter’s bed as the doctor checks her daughter’s documents and provides counsel on neonatal childcare. Khulm DH is a 50-bed hospital, located in Khulm district, ...

China and Afghanistan connecting through fiber optic network

The acting Minister of Communications and Information Technology (MoCIT) of Afghanistan, Mr. Ahmad Shah Sadaat, said a fiber optic cable network project will connect Afghanistan to China through Wakhan port. He said once the project has been launched, Afghanistan stands to earn up to $60 million USD annually by being a conduit for China’s data to countries around the world. According to Sadaat, nearly 480 km of fiber optic cable will connect Afghanistan to China’s fiber optic network and the project will be completed by 2018. “Afghanistan’s direct connection to China’s fiber optic network is very important for us and we will be able to buy internet services at a cheaper price,” said Sadaat. The fiber optic cable project manager, Ikramuddin, meanwhile said the project will cost $50 million USD and will be paid for through aid provided by the World Bank. “It is very difficult to cross the cable through this way (Wakhan port), but the project is funded by the World Bank and up to $50 mill...

Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council says certain regional countries seek to transfer terrorists from Iraq and Syria to Afghanistan

Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council Ali Shamkhani made the remarks in a phone conversation with Hanif Atmar, national security adviser to Afghan President Ashraf Ghani. The countries are after “destabilizing Afghanistan and weakening its security and law enforcement structure to prepare the ground to transfer the terrorists, who have been routed in Iraq and Syria, to the [Central Asian] country,” Shamkhani said. About 10 Taliban militants, dressed in Afghan army uniforms and driving military vehicles, infiltrated a military base in the northern Afghanistan Balkh Province on the last Friday, opening fire on mostly unarmed soldiers and killing scores of them. The Iranian official condemned the attack and condoled with the Afghan government and people, saying the Islamic Republic was prepared to deliver all sorts of assistance to those affected by the terror strike. Expediting bilateral intelligence and security cooperation, something which has been earnestly endeavo...

The Balkh International Business Exhibition kicked off in the city of Mazar-e Sharif in northern Afghanistan

Organized by the Balkh Chamber of Commerce and Industries, the Balkh International Expo kicked off in Mazar-e Sharif.  More than 100 female and male exhibitors from different sectors and provinces participate in the four-day event, where they can promote their products and create business networks. 35 of them received financial support from the Afghan-German Cooperation’s program for sustainable economic development and employment promotion (SEDEP). This year’s exhibition focuses on women-owned enterprises. Many female owners of small and medium-sized companies display their products in trade booths to attract customers and investors. “The business environment in Afghanistan is not always women-friendly which makes it difficult for us to get access to the market. The exhibition provides me and other businesswomen with the opportunity to introduce and to sell our products and to form business networks. This makes it a lot easier for us to access the market. Of course, the event a...

Afghanistan's economy is expected to grow by 2.5% this year

According to a recent report by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), Afghanistan’s economy is expected to grow by 2.5% this year. The report says that the economy of Afghanistan will see a boost this year due to favorable weather, improved domestic revenue collection and a modest recovery of the industrial sector. The Afghan Ministry of Economy (MoE) is more optimistic than ADB's report, and it has predicted a 3.5% increase in the country’s economic growth for this year. According to MoE, the agriculture sector will contribute 23% to the economy, while the industrial sector and service sector will be over 21% and 51% respectively.

Казахстан согласился поставлять в ИРА 50% импортируемой муки

Представители Торгово Промышленной Палаты Афганистана (ТППА) заявили о расширении торгово-экономических отношений между Казахстаном и Афганистаном. Они подчеркнули, что Казахстан может заменить Пакистан на афганском рынке. Из-за недавнего перекрытия границы пакистанскими властями торговые отношения между Пакистаном и Афганистаном были прерваны и, хотя торговые порты уже открыты, бизнесмены понесли многомиллионные убытки. Согласно заявлению ТППА, Казахстан готов увеличить экспорт пищевой продукции в Афганистан до 50%. "Казахстан согласился поставлять в Афганистан 50% импортируемой муки. Мы обращались с подобной просьбой к Пакистану, однако нам было отказано", отметил вице-глава ТППА Хан Джан Алокозай.

WB to fund works on Kabul-Peshawar highway: Pakistan’s Finance Minister

The World Bank has agreed in principle to fund the construction works on the highway between Peshawar and Kabul, Pakistan’s Finance Minister Ishaq Dar says. At a meeting with World Bank Vice President for South Asia Annette Dixon in Washington on Sunday, Ishaq Dar urged the World Bank to finance the project aimed at boosting regional connectivity. The World Bank official agreed in principle to finance the project, according to a statement from the Ministry of Finance in Islamabad. He said energy sector projects were undertaken on a priority basis. At a separate meeting with his Afghan counterpart Eklil Ahmed Hakimi, Ishaq Dar said peace in Afghanistan was directly linked to stability in neighboring countries, especially Pakistan. They agreed that well-coordinated economic and trade policies would enable the two countries to reap the fruits of progress and development. Ishaq Dar condemned Friday’s terrorist attack on a military in northern Balkh province, where more than 100 soldiers...

How a foreign bankrupt firm can win a contract in Afghanistan (?!)

>>> READ ORIGINAL ARTICLE:   http://1tvnews.af/en/news/afghanistan/29026-bankrupt-firm-wins-share-in-multimillion-afghan-contract   >>>   http://www.heartofasia.af/index.php/economy/item/3809-bankrupt-firm-wins-share-in-multimillion-afghan-contract Bankrupt firm wins share in multimillion Afghan contract. A bankrupt Turkish firm is among winners of $79 million contract from the Afghan government over a major dam project in the southwest of the country. Pimatek is suffering from financial problems and it has shared the issue with the court of the relevant country, according to official documents obtained by 1TV. In an official letter to the National Procurement Authority, the Ministry of Economy has made it clear that Pimatek has officially claimed bankruptcy to a Turkish court. The contract with the company along with two others, including one from Turkey and from Afghanistan, was signed three days later when the president visited Nimroz provi...

Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved an US$80 million loan for the electrification of railway in Uzbekistan

Electrified track is part of the Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation Corridor 2, a critical transport link in the region. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved an US$80 million loan for the electrification of 145 kilometers (km) of railway in Uzbekistan, linking the cities of Pap, Namangan, and Andijan. The electrified track is part of the Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC) Corridor 2, a critical transport link in the region. “Ensuring the safety, reliability, and sustainability of railway networks is an important component of growth and development for a landlocked country like Uzbekistan,” said Takeo Konishi, ADB’s Country Director for Uzbekistan. “Improving transport in Uzbekistan will strengthen the country’s strategic location as a trade and transport hub in Central Asia.” The project will facilitate direct and efficient operation of both freight and passenger train services linking major cities in the Fergana Valley — home to nearly a third of ...

The mining law is a major hurdle to investment growth in Afghanistan

The Natural Resources Monitoring Network (NRMN) have highlighted problems present in Afghanistan’s mining law and called on the government to amend the law in order to boost investment. According to NRMN, the mining law is a major hurdle to investment growth in the country due to its flaws. One of the problems highlighted is the ambiguity of the articles of the law regarding contracts and awarding of mining contracts through nepotism. NRMN claims that a major portion of mining revenue goes to a few powerful men and armed anti-government groups. About a year ago, the European Union's (EU) special envoy to Afghanistan (H.E. Franz-Michael Mellbin) said that the recommendations for the prevention of illegal extraction he submitted to the Afghan government weren't taken into consideration by the Afghan officials. "They are not implemented yet, there is weak legislation which needs to be changed, there is a monitoring system that also is not able to do the job and it will need ...

Thirty new factories established in Afghan province of Nangarhar this year

Afghanistan’s eastern Nangarhar province has witnessed 70% increase in industrial activity with the establishment of 30 new factories at Sheikh Misri Industrial Zone of the province in the past six months. The province’s business community along with Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Industries (ACCI) called on Governor Haji Tor Malang to further support investment in the province. Governor Malang said industrial activity has been increasing day by day in Nangarhar. According to Malang, a total of 2,433 factories are functional in Nangarhar, employing 10,000 individuals. The Governor received recognition award from ACCI for his efforts at improving the local industry. >>> READ ORIGINAL ARTICLE

Trump administration says very little about Afghanistan and the longest war in American history

Is It Time for America, Afghanistan to Part away? Written by Daniel R. DePetris, Heart Of Asia The war in Afghanistan has been going on for such a long period of time that it’s almost become a ritual for a new administration to take a bottom-up, comprehensive look at America’s war strategy during its first two months on the job. The movie has been repetitively played over the last decade and a half: the generals running the war are ordered by the new president and his national security adviser to assess whether the plan is working; the generals conduct the review, which usually concludes with the commanders requesting more U.S. troops on the ground; and the administration (with varying degrees of resistance) eventually provides the commanders the authority and resources that they have forwarded to the White House. President Obama was a bit of anomaly in this regard. He did, after all, set a timeline for troop withdrawals that the Pentagon wasn’t especially pleased about. But even Ob...

Afghanistan has the great potential to turn into a business hub for all

Invest in Afghanistan Afghanistan, a fast growing emerging market of strategic importance, is located at the crossroads of the famous east-west trading corridor of the Silk Road and the modern north-south corridor of great economic opportunities. These corridors link some of the largest and fastest-growing economies of the world, including China, India, Pakistan and Turkey, Russia, Iran and UAE. They involve massive energy resources of Central Asia, Afghan mineral riches worth trillions of dollars, busy South-Asian markets and major sea ports of international trading in Indian Ocean and the Persian Gulf. The Afghan capital Kabul, symbolizing the spirits of all Afghans and international cooperation, sets at the heart of this highly resourceful region, with great potential to turn into a business hub for all.

Invest in Afghanistan

Pilot saffron cultivation program gives positive results in the Afghan Province of Bamyan

Afghan Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock (MAIL) received positive results from its pilot saffron cultivation program in central Bamyan province over the last two years. For the first year of the experiment saffron was cultivated on nine plots of land. After receiving the desired results saffron was grown again for a second year on five plots of land in Kohmard district and Bamyan province. Saffron grows well in warm areas. Bamyan is one of the cold provinces of Afghanistan; yet, the saffron cultivation on an experimental basis produced encouraging results. Saffron bulbs for the experiment were brought from Herat city through the Bayat Development Foundation to increase saffron cultivation in Bamyan. Meanwhile, growers urged the government to provide more saffron bulbs to boost saffron production in the province. Lack of saffron bulbs and its transfer from Herat are problems facing Bamyan farmers. Saffron was primarily produced in Herat province where farmers proved t...

Darakht-e Danesh - an online library of learning materials for Afghanistan

What is the Darakht-e Danesh Library? 'Darakht-e danesh' means "knowledge tree" in Dari, one of the official languages of Afghanistan. The Darakht-e Danesh Online Library for Educators is a repository of open educational resources for teachers, teacher trainers, school administrators, literacy workers and others involved in furthering education in Afghanistan. These open source resources include lesson plans, pedagogical tools, exercises, experiments, reading texts, work books, curricula and other resources for use in Afghan classrooms. These resources can be freely accessed by registered users, and we encourage users to add to the repository by uploading their own resources and expand this collection for the benefit of Afghanistan's teachers. The OER movement is fundamentally about sharing: please use the resources in the Library, but also considering contributing some of your own resources. It's easy to add documents to the Library. Just contact us if y...

Entrepreneur of the Month: Shamama Arbab

Shamama Arbab is the director of Euro Industries , a food processing business in Peshawar, Pakistan. She works in a city where it is difficult for women just to step out of the house alone, let alone to launch and grow a business. After achieving business success, Arbab played a pivotal role in setting up the Women’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry (WCCI) in Peshawar and is currently the organization’s vice president. Only a few short years ago, women in Pakistan didn’t have the right to create their own chambers of commerce or business associations at all.  “The largest untapped reservoir of capability and talent is women,”   she said at the Delhi conference. In her vision, women’s empowerment goes hand in hand with economic growth for all. She believes that women’s success is everyone’s success, and that countries around the world benefit from having a business climate that is conducive to tapping into those reservoirs of talent. She seeks to link women’s empowerment, a...

Work with the Afghanistan Infrastructure Trust Fund

What is the Afghanistan Infrastructure Trust Fund? Afghanistan's infrastructure requirements are estimated at $4 billion over the next 3 years - far more than the government or any single funding agency can provide. The Afghanistan Infrastructure Trust Fund provides an opportunity for bilateral, multilateral and individual contributors to partner with Asian Development Bank (ADB) in financing infrastructure investments and improve the livelihood of the Afghan people. It was established in December 2010. What are the priorities? The key areas of need are: - Stronger transport links - Energy facilities and security - Irrigation systems - Development of mineral resources - Private sector development What kind of activities are eligible for the fund? The fund will provide grant cofinancing alongside ADB-funded infrastructure projects, with resources supplementing those provided by ADB through its own operational budget. ADB will provide operational and project management e...

AFN 50,000,000 worth of garden projects implemented in Takhar province of Afghanistan

As many as 57 garden projects worth AFN 50,000,000 have been implemented on rain-fed lands in northern Takhar province in the past two years through the National Horticulture and Livestock Project (NHLP). Each project included planting fruit trees and cultivating wheat and other crops on 5-25 acres of land. According to NHLP head for the northeastern region of Afghanistan, Mohammad Ghulam Mulakhel said 25 more such projects would be rolled out in the next two years at a total cost of AFN 25,000,000. He added that these projects have benefited the residents economically and improved farmer skills in horticulture. Funded by the World Bank since 2009, the NHLP works to promote adoption of improved production practices by target farmers, with gradual rollout of farmer-centric agricultural services systems and investment support. The project supports three components to promote increased adoption of improved technologies: 1 - horticultural production; 2 - animal production and health; 3...

Afghanistan - Bidding Opportunities

National Procurement Authority Here you can find the information about the Bidding Opportunities  in Procuring Entities of Afghanistan government: >>> CLICK

Afghan women may get the chance and the right to divorce bad husbands

When Nadia's heroin addict husband began assaulting her with a metal rod, she did something unthinkable for many women in Afghanistan: SHE LEFT HIM! Domestic abuse is endemic in the deeply patriarchal country, but for the first time a growing number of Afghan women are embracing divorce as a new kind of empowerment. Divorce is Islamically deemed as halal (a permissible act), but the worst sort, still a greater taboo than the abuse itself in a culture that remains unforgiving to women who part with their husbands. "He is a drug addict and an alcoholic. I cannot live with him anymore," Nadia said of her husband of two years as she sobbed quietly behind the billowing folds of her burqa. Her father, sat next to her, also welled up with tears. Tribal elders from Nadia's community attempted to intervene, cajoling her to go back to her abuser. Instead, she became the first woman in her family to ask for divorce. "God has given rights to women, divorce is one of them,...

Правительство Афганистана начало работу над внедрением афгано-иранского соглашение о пользовании водными ресурсами западных провинций страны

В рамках соглашения в ближайшие дни стартует строительство гидроэлектростанции Камал Хан. Многие аналитики уже высказались о том, что этот проект крайне важен для развития сельского хозяйства на западе страны.  Кроме того, планируется построить еще одну подстанцию и провести дальнейшие переговоры с иранскими властями касательно затронутых её работой районов. Согласно второй статье водного соглашения "Гельманд", Афганистан должен позволить Ирану получать не менее 25 кубометров воды в секунду со своей территории.

The President of Afghanistan appointed a Minister of State to develop tourism in the country

Beautiful Afghanistan The Afghan government has appointed a Minister of State in an effort to boost tourism in Afghanistan.  The President of Afghanistan, Ashraf Ghani, appointed Ghulam Nabi Farahi as Minister of State for Tourism through a Presidential Decree.   The Decree states that the new Minister has been appointed for developing and expanding tourism, attracting investments, and introducing the historic culture of the country. Afghanistan is a landlocked country with beautiful natural scenery and historical sites which have long been attracting tourists from around the globe. However, the increasing violence and corruption in the country has resulted in a drastic decline in the number of tourists coming to Afghanistan. Kidnapping, hostage taking, landmines, militant attacks, suicide bombings, attacks by Vehicle borne IEDs (VBIEDs) or other IED devices, pose a major threat to the Tourism Industry of Afghanistan. According to UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) dat...

A number of Afghan youths claim that the government repeatedly announces vacancies only to portray itself as active in providing work opportunities

A number of Afghan youths complain the National Unity Government (NUG) is repeatedly announcing some vacant positions to portray itself as active in providing work opportunities for people, claiming that government institutions do not fill the vacancies at first announcement, therefore they announce them for a second time. The Independent Administrative Reform and Civil Service Commission (IARCSC), however, rejects these allegations as baseless, saying that it has not observed any such instance. Tooryalai Zareen, a young civil activist who holds a master's degree, said he had applied for a specialist position re-announced by the Independent Directorate of Local Governance (IDLG) three months before, but he has not heard anything back. Talking to The Heart of Asia, Zareen alleged that some government institutions either announced vacancies already filled by individuals based on nepotism and personal relations or re-announced some job openings several time. "Some positions ...

Transport Sector Master Plan Update will help Afghanistan develop its transport infrastructure covering roads, railways, civil aviation, urban transport, trade logistics, and other related operations: ADB

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Government of Afghanistan unveiled a comprehensive Transport Sector Master Plan Update that will help Afghanistan develop its transport infrastructure covering roads, railways, civil aviation, urban transport, trade logistics, and other related operations. The estimated investment required to achieve the goals is about USD 26 billion from 2017-2036. “The updated plan recommends several urgently needed actions to help Afghanistan deliver on its wider development goals,” said Sean O’Sullivan, Director General of ADB’s Central and West Asia Department. “ADB remains committed to supporting the development of Afghanistan’s transport sector and is honored to support the government in this important undertaking.” The strategy focuses on Afghanistan’s transport system, regional connectivity, as well as the proper operation and maintenance of transportation infrastructure and sustainability. It examines current transport infrastructures and investme...

Afghanistan Cricket

After sitting on reserve seat in the first four matches, Afghan lad Mohammad Nabi joined players on the ground on Monday to mark his debut at the Indian Premier League.  Nabi went to the play with his countrymate Rashid Khan as their team Sunrisers Hyderabad, the defending champions, had two wins and two losses since the start of the season on April 5. Sunrisers claimed another win as they beat King XI Punjabs by five runs at Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad. After losing the toss, Sunrisers put up a total of 159-6, with skipper David Warner top scoring with 70. Defending 160-run target, Sunrisers bowled out Kings XI Punjab in the last over as they needed five runs in two bowls, as Manan Vohra’s 95 went in vain. Bhuvneshwar Kumar emerged as top wicket-taker, claiming five, followed by Rashid Khan who clean bowled David Miller and Wriddhiman Saha in three balls. An over prior to Rashid’s heroics, Mohammad Nabi claimed crucial wicket of Eoin Morgan to celebrate his fir...

Afghan author Zahra Yaganah writes explicitly about topics such as marital rape and how women fall victims of cultural norms

The 'Light of Ashes', a fiction book written by a former child bride and a successful Afghan writer Zahra Yaganah, is now also available in international market. Zahra Yaganah at her home in Kabul The book is based on the real story of Yaganah’s life. She was 13 years old when she was married to a man twice her age. Yaganah has suffered from abuse by her drug-addicted husband. The violence brought her on the verge of death many times. The story of Yaganah is not an exception as many Afghan women have faced domestic violence. However, very few has dared to speak about it publicly; Yaganah is one of those few women. She writes explicitly about topics such as marital rape, menstruation and the lifelong damage caused to women by child marriages. In an interview with 'The Guardian' Yaganah said that  “It is impossible for Afghan women to read this book and not find an issue that reflects their life story,”   she says. "Women can find their path, despite all the...

Chinese businessmen are keen to increase their investments in countries along the One Belt One Road project

Officials of Tajikistan have said that Chinese businessmen are keen to increase their investments in countries along the One Belt One Road project. The officials said initial work on the project has started in Tajikistan.   “Investments of Chinese companies is the big part of the One Belt One Road’s implementation. The change which you see in people’s lives today is the result of our government’s policies. We support the One Belt One Road project and we believe in it,” said Murad Ali Mardan, head of Tajikistan Agricultural Development Bank.  “State-of-the-art equipment is being used in the project. This reveals that we will be able to produce high quality cotton and other products,” said Sherov Dost Murad, manager of a factory in Tajikistan. This comes after the Afghan Finance Minister said last month that the One Belt One Road project – which is a new draft by China – is very important for Afghanistan and the Region. The Minister said that they had already aligned most o...

Avviso di gara per Studio di Fattibilità

Adeguamento dell’Aeroporto di Herat-Afghanistan a standard ICAO. Nell’ambito del programma a credito d’aiuto “Misure urgenti per l’ammodernamento dell’Aeroporto di Herat a standard internazionali ICAO”, il Governo afghano ha la disponibilità di un fondo specifico da utilizzare per la ricerca di una Società di Consulenza Tecnica per i Servizi d’Ingegneria necessari per lo studio di fattibilità relativo al Progetto. Possono partecipare alla gara solo Società di Consulenza italiane.    Visualizza qui l'avviso di gara

In Afghanistan it's still not very clear the difference between political stability and political instability

Ahmad Zia Massoud, he is a younger brother of the late Ahmad Shah Massoud, the legendary resistance leader against the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan and against the Taliban. Ahmad Zia Massoud is considering establishment of a transitional government in Afghanistan, after he was sacked by the Afghan President as his senior aide. On April 17, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani fired Massoud as his special representative on reform and good governance. Massoud, however, strongly rejected the dismissal saying his appointment had come as part of deal and that President Ghani had no right or power to sack him. People close to Massoud said that he has launched consultations with different political blocs on setting up a transitional government. “President Ghani should quit and the transitional administration will be tasked to pave way for holding presidential and parliamentary elections,”   Massoud’s media adviser told journalists. “Ghani should resign immediately and the transitiona...

The World Bank Group’s Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency insures three major companies in Afghanistan

The World Bank Group’s Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA) has so far insured three major companies in Afghanistan in an bid to promote foreign direct investment in the country. Collectively worth USD 154 million, these companies are insured against losses incurred in a change in political systems and trade problems. “World Bank has insured 3 companies through MIGA, but there is little awareness about this service. More awareness needs to be made in order to provide better investment climate in Afghanistan,” said a representative of the Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce of Industries (ACCI).

Бизнесмены из Чехии выразили интерес к проектам строительства троллейбусных линий в Афганистане

Бизнесмены из Чехии выразили намерение инвестировать в более чем восемьдесят проектов развития в Афганистане и представили инвестиционные планы афганскому правительству. Группа из семнадцати представителей частного сектора Чехии обратилась к афганскому правительству с предложением возобновить предыдущие совместные проекты, а также инвестировать в новые. Среди предлагаемых проектов - такие, как сбор и переработка мусора, строительство солнечных ветровых и других электростанций, работающих на альтернативных источниках энергии, производство цемента и других строительных материалов. Кроме того, представители Чехии выразили интерес к проектам строительства троллейбусных линий.   ▂ ▃ ▅ ▆  T HE CONTENT OF THIS BLOG IS NOT INTENDED TO CAUSE HARM, but if You have any concerns about the contents of this Blog, contact me by filling out the email form below. Disagreeing with the content of this Blog does not constitute sufficient ground for You to ask me to remove or modify an...

Afghan Businesswomen ask the government to help them expand their businesses and economic activities

Afghan Businesswomen believe that government’s cooperation would help them to expand their activities and hire more female employees.   Rahima is an Afghan businesswoman who has invested in a company that polishes gemstones and produces carpets. She says that the investment was aimed to hire female workers, train them and produce quality products for local markets. “The lack of access to marketing is one of the biggest problems for us, because we cannot sell our products on the local markets,” she said. Rahima has hired over 70 female workers at her company where they work in different fields such polishing of the gemstones, carpet weaving and cosmetics. These women have said they have learnt many skills over a short period of time while at Rahima’s company. “Our expectation is that with government help we can build more companies so that women can work and earn money for their children,” said one of the employees, Farishta. “I also work at home, I take orders and weave carpets...

The future of cricket in Afghanistan is shining

The Afghanistan national cricket team is expected to face the World Best 11 team at Lord’s in coming July.  👌The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) said the Afghanistan national cricket team will face the World Best 11 team at Lord’s on 11th July. The World Best XI team will play against the team under the captaincy of Brendon McCullum. A statement by ACB said the match has been scheduled for July 11th based on an agreement reached between the Afghanistan Cricket Board Chairman Atif Mashal and the Chairman of Marylebone Cricket Club. He said we have prepared a comprehensive plan for the development of cricket. Mashal further added that the future of cricket in Afghanistan is bright as we will witness more developments in the future. He also added that the upcoming match in Lord’s is a new chapter to be opened in the development history of the Afghanistan cricket. This comes as the former Afghan coaches have been insisting to organize matches with the big teams of the world in a bid...

Forced marriage of children has disastrous consequence in Afghanistan: Afghan First Lady Rula Ghani

Afghan First Lady Rula Ghani said that children should be protected against child marriage. She was speaking during the launch of National Action Plan to Eliminate Early and Child Marriage in Kabul today April 18.   " Forced marriage of children is sorrowful. According to science and medics, child marriage is harmful highly risky and has disastrous consequence in the country,”   the First Lady said. According to Rula Ghani, child marriage could be a factor of increase in maternal death rate in the country. Child marriage is a major problem in Afghanistan. It is said to carry the risk of sexual violence and health risks relating to early birth. “In our country, children’s consent is not considered during marriage. We will work to prevent early marriages in Afghanistan. With the implementation of National Action Plan to Eliminate Early and Child Marriage, we will prevent this sorrowful tragedy and reduce violence in Afghanistan,”   said Habiba Wahaj, an adviser on women’s a...

Afghan traders have blocked trade at the Sher Khan Port in northern Kunduz province in protest against problems caused by neighboring Tajikistan

The demonstrators were upset over absence of a Tajik consulate in the province and claim that Tajikistan denies visas to Afghan traders and drivers. The border gate will remain shut until the traders’ problem are resolved. According to one of the protestors, the issue has been reported to Tajik officials several times but no outcome is achieved. Meanwhile, Kunduz governors’ spokesperson Sayed Mahmood Danish said Tajikistan was denying to open a consulate in Kunduz due to security reasons. He added that Tajikistan had been assured by local officials that the Afghan forces would take charge of the consulate security. >>> READ ORIGINAL ARTICLE   ▂ ▃ ▅ ▆  T HE CONTENT OF THIS BLOG IS NOT INTENDED TO CAUSE HARM, but if You have any concerns about the contents of this Blog, contact me by filling out the email form below. Disagreeing with the content of this Blog does not constitute sufficient ground for You to ask me to remove or modify any parts of this Blog. Thank You...