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Dall'Italia 10 milioni di euro al Fondo fiduciario per la ricostruzione dell’Afghanistan

Il comitato congiunto per la Cooperazione italiana allo sviluppo ha approvato il 19 aprile scorso un contributo volontario di 10 milioni di euro all’Afghanistan Reconstruction Trust Fund (ARTF), il fondo fiduciario sostenuto da 34 Paesi e amministrato dalla Banca Mondiale di cui l’Italia si colloca al dodicesimo posto tra i donatori. Il fondo è stato istituito nel 2002 per fornire un meccanismo coordinato di finanziamento sia del bilancio afgano che dei progetti nazionali prioritari, fornendo importanti risultati positivi nei settori chiave nello sviluppo del Paese, tra i quali istruzione, sanità, agricoltura, sviluppo rurale, energia, infrastrutture e governance. Tutti i fondi ARTF sono canalizzati attraverso il Ministero delle Finanze afgano ai ministeri ed agenzie governative responsabili dell'attuazione degli interventi. Ad oggi l’ARTF rimane il veicolo preferenziale di “pool funding” nel Paese, con costi di transazione bassi ed un buon livello di trasparenza grazie ai suoi

China and India almost on the same page on Afghanistan

It is without a shadow of a doubt that Afghan war has internal factors, yet the foreign causes are greater and also more important than the internal ones. It seems impossible to put an end to the ongoing conflict unless the foreign causes are stamped out. As long as the regional and global powers continue to challenge and confront their rivals in Afghanistan, stability in the country will remain elusive. Forging a regional and then global consensus on Afghanistan is a key step forward towards eliminating the foreign causes of Afghan conflict. Of course such consensus should not be on papers only; it should be backed by practical actions, too. When the parties to the Afghan conflict come to the conclusion that only stability can better serve their interests, that will be the moment peace efforts will begin to come to fruition. Although Afghan government has not yet been able to forge such consensus, there are some promising developments, one of which is the agreement of India and Ch

Ministry of Mines of Afghanistan said that they would soon re-issue a tender for the construction of the Jabal Saraj cement factory

Afghan Ministry of Mines and Petroleum (MoMP) said that they would soon re-issue a tender for the construction of the Jabal Saraj cement factory. MoMP officials said the cement plant project had been put out to tender in the past and that an Afghan company had looked set to win the contract. However, the High Economic Council had decided to reissue the tender in order to find a more qualified company. According to MoMP officials, once built, the factory should be able to produce up to one million tons of cement a year and that the winning company should be able to invest up to USD 170,000,000 in the factory. “This project will be put out to tender soon and we are ready to identify the most eligible companies,” MoMP spokesman Abdul Qadeer Mutfi said. According to the ministry, Afghanistan is one of the biggest cement importers among the countries in the region. Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Industries (ACCI) officials meanwhile said the Afghan government has in the last 17 yea

Uzbek and Turkmen presidents discussed Uzbekistan’s participation in the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline

Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov just concluded a highly touted state visit to Uzbekistan, and energy was -- as always -- one of the main topics of discussion. Berdymukhammedov and Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoev discussed Uzbekistan’s participation in the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline and joint work at the offshore hydrocarbon fields in Turkmenistan’s sector of the Caspian Sea.  Though Mirziyoev expressed Uzbekistan’s interest in them, it is unlikely either of these projects will move forward in the near future. Surprisingly, in judging from official reports about their meetings, the two leaders did not discuss the so-called Line D of the Turkmenistan-China gas pipeline network -- which is very strange since Line D is Turkmenistan’s surest option for boosting its gas exports in the near future. The omission could signal that something is seriously wrong. TAPI is a great idea at the wrong time. Shipping 33 billion cubic meters (bcm) of ga

Afghan Government needs USD 500 million from the international community to overcome consequences of drought in the country

Statistics by the Afghanistan National Disaster Management Authority (ANDMA) show that 21 provinces are faced with drought due to a 46 percent drop in rainfalls this year. The Disaster Management Authority Authority said it will provide forage for the provinces within the next two months and that it pledged to help residents. “The main problem is lack of forage because incomes of people are depended on farming and livestock,” said an official of ANDMA. The Ministry of Finance said 250,000,000 million Afghanis (around 3,5 million US dollars) has been allocated in an amended budget and that the ministry is discussing the matter with the international community. “An inclusive plan has been considered to provide services to Afghans affected by drought,” said the Ministry of Finance. Officials of Disaster Management Authority said at least USD 500 million is required to overcome consequences of drought in the country. However, the officials said the authority has only about 6 million US

Officials of the UAE and the I.R. Afghanistan inaugurated a major township built in the Afghan capital Kabul with the financial support of the UAE Govt

A ceremony was organized to inaugurate the major township, Sheikh Khalifa bin Zaid Al-Nahyan or the Emirates Township, in Kabul city on Sunday 22 April, 2018. Several key officials from the two countries including President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani were present during the inauguration of the township. In his speech at the inauguration ceremony, the Minister of Urban Development and Housing, Syed Sadat Mansoor Naderi, thanked the UAE officials for their sincere support to build the township and called a symbol of the friendship of the two countries. Minister Naderi further added that the government of national unity is committed to build shelters for the residents of the country and work is underway on several other key and major plans. He said the foundation of the township was laid during the government of the former President Hamid Karzai and was due to be completed over a period of one year. However, he said the work was not completed and was halted due to some issues but the new lead

Afghanistan: Improving lives through better infrastructure in Kabul

Afghanistan - Asian Development Bank (ADB) funding three power projects for Bamyan province

Afghanistan Electricity Company Da Afghanistan Breshna Sherkat (DABS)   signed three deals for major power projects. The projects, funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), will result in electricity to more people in Bamyan province. DABS signed contracts for these projects with three separate companies. The three projects include the extension of the Turkmenistan-Uzbekistan-Tajikistan-Afghanistan (TUTA) electricity line to Bamyan, the establishment of a sub-station in Bamyan and the development of Bamyan’s power distribution network. - The first contract worth USD 43.8 million, involves the extension of a 220KV transmission line, with the capacity to carry 300MW of electricity from Dushi substation to Bamyan city. The length of this line will be 180km, and the contract was signed with KEC, an Indian Company. - The second contract is for the construction of a 220/20KV substation with the capacity of putting out 32MW in Azhdar area of Bamyan province. This agreement was signed w
This morning, Wednesday 25/04/2018, in a street of #Kabul , #AFG , one of the largest and fastest growing capital cities in the world. #ForeignCurrency #ExchangeRates #EUR #USD #Afghanis Doing Business in Afghanistan #InvestInAFG http:// IvoTONIUT.com  

Since the Afghanistan National Horticulture and Livestock Project started its activities in Panjshir Province in 2008, local farmers have learned about modern horticulture, and they can now plant new orchards or replace their traditional gardens with modern ones

Panjshir Province, Afghanistan – Decades of using the same agricultural methods had left Mohammad Yousuf, 42, frustrated. He was under constant pressure to produce more since his harvest was always less than expected. The traditional methods he had learned from his father was for many years the only way of cultivation and harvesting he knew. “I used to cultivate wheat and corn, but I didn’t earn much,” says Yousuf, who has been a farmer for more than 20 years. He owns three jeribs (about 0.6 hectares) of farmland, a small plot from which he has to provide for nine family members. Although Yousuf is an experienced farmer and harvested an average of 600 kilos of wheat a year, the earnings were not enough to feed his family. He had to work as a day laborer as well to keep afloat. In 2016, he found out about the National Horticulture and Livestock Project (NHLP) through his neighbor, Mohammad Akbar, 45. With the support of NHLP, he planted a two-jerib apple orchard in May 2016. This

First Islamic Bank in Afghanistan was inaugurated in Kabul

The first Islamic Bank was inaugurated during a ceremony in Kabul and in the presence of the senior government officials including Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah.  In his speech during the ceremony, Abdullah said the Islamic Banking was a branch of the banks as he welcomed the inauguration of an exclusive Islamic Bank in the country. He said the Islamic Banking is a good experience in the world and fortunately Afghanistan is also experiencing the services of the Islamic Banking. However, he insisted that the success of the Islamic Banking has links with generosity of the bank employees to provide better services, good cooperation of the State and government’s support to pave the way for the operations of such a bank. Abdullah expressed hopes that the first Islamic Bank would maintain the confidence of the people as he pointed towards the services of the Azizi and Bakhtar Banks. He said to maintain and preserve the confidence of the people is a major investment and the Islamic Bank s

It is the first time ever that an Italian professional starts a sole proprietorship in Afghanistan

April 23, 2018 - The Ministry of Commerce and Industries of Afghanistan issued a Sole Proprietor Business License to an Italian citizen. It is the first time ever that an Italian professional starts a sole proprietorship in Afghanistan.  The friendship between Italian and Afghan people and the union of their strong entrepreneurial spirit can contribute significantly to the economic development of Afghanistan, and the issuing of this license, besides spreading optimism for the future of Afghanistan, will encourage other Italian entrepreneurs to invest in Afghanistan and develop partnerships with local businesses.

The ongoing rise of cricket in Afghanistan

How economic growth can help defeat terrorism in Afghanistan

Syria, North Korea, and Yemen have largely dominated headlines. But Afghanistan also remains in the global conscience. If anything, the much-needed international focus on the campaign against the Taliban has outlined how difficult the fight has become, despite our steady military gains.   Frustrated with what many are mistakenly calling a quagmire, international commentators either advocate for a quick-fix peace deal to withdraw from Afghanistan or engaging in a more intense military campaign. The latter is an understandable response, but even so, it is far from a complete remedy. The war in Afghanistan is not being waged on the battlefield alone: If we are to emerge as a strong and independent democracy, the campaign for Afghanistan’s economy must stand on equal footing with the counter-terrorism campaign. In fact, they are one and the same. We can’t build schools during firefights; but without schools, the firefights will continue. Yet a disproportionate amount of international resou

Россия и Индия разделяют схожие представления о будущем ИРА

Россия и Индия разделяют схожие представления о будущем Афганистана, заявил посол РФ в Индии Николай Кудашев. "В целом, Россия и Индия имеют схожие представления о том, каким мы хотим видеть Афганистан: стабильным, независимым, мирным, демократичным, процветающим, дружелюбным по отношению к соседям, суверенным и хорошо интегрированным в региональную экономическую систему", — сказал Кудашев, выступая с лекцией в Нью-Дели. При этом посол отметил, что результаты продолжающегося на протяжении многих лет иностранного военного присутствия нельзя охарактеризовать как успешные в какой-либо форме. "Это также можно сказать и про большинство форматов межафганского урегулирования", — заявил российский дипломат, подчеркнув, что идея о возможном военном решении сложившихся в этой стране проблем «находится в отрыве от исторического опыта и реалий сегодняшнего дня». "Борьба с терроризмом в Афганистане требует всеобъемлющего подхода и должна, прежде всего, включать в себя реши

RaiNews24 in Afghanistan

L’inviato di RaiNews24 Ettore Guastalla ha trascorso una settimana in Afghanistan a seguito del contingente italiano che opera nell’ambito della missione Nato “Resolute Support”. Nella “zona verde” di Kabul ha incontrato l’Ambasciatore italiano Roberto Cantone, discutendo della situazione di sicurezza e dei recenti attacchi condotti da talebani e Isis (qui il video) . È poi entrato nel quartier generale della missione internazionale, dove operano anche i nostri militari e dove ha incontrato il Generale Antonio Bettelli (qui il video) . Il giornalista Rai ha poi trascorso la Pasqua ad Herat dove è attualmente dispiegata la Brigata Sassari nell’ambito delle operazioni di supporto e assistenza all’esercito afghano (qui il video) . Sempre ad Herat RaiNews24 ha descritto le attività dei militari italiani per contrastare gli ordigni esplosivi improvvisati (qui il video) .

Afghanistan: Salt extraction contract cancelled after uranium and lithium have been discovered at the same mine

The Ministry of Mines and Petroleum of Afghanistan on Monday 1 April 2018 said they have terminated the extraction contract of Herat’s Ghoryan salt mine signed with a private company two months ago following the discovery of minerals including lithium and uranium. The spokesman for the Ministry of Mines, Abdul Qadir Mutfi, said their recent studies showed that these minerals are present at the mine. As such they have terminated the contract with the contractor, he said. Ghoryan salt mine is the only mining contract to have been signed by the Afghan National Unity Government (NUG). “This was a small contract and was contracted as a pilot extraction, but we are trying to ensure the country's mines are extracted based on the country's needs,” Mutfi said. >>> READ THE FULL ARTICLE on HeartOfAsia.af

RaiNews24's reporter Ettore Guastalla spent a week in Afghanistan and met the Italian Ambassador Roberto Cantone, discussing the security situation

RaiNews24's reporter Ettore Guastalla spent a week in Afghanistan following the Italian contingent operating within the NATO’s "Resolute Support" mission. In Kabul’s “Green Zone” he met the Italian Ambassador Roberto Cantone, discussing the security situation and the recent attacks conducted by the Taliban and Daesh (w atch video 1 ) . He also visited the headquarters of the Resolute Support international mission, where our military operate and where he met General Antonio Bettelli (w atch video 2 ) .  The RAI journalist then spent Easter in Herat where the Sassari Brigade is currently deployed as part of the operations to support and assist the Afghan army (w atch video 3 ) . Also in Herat RaiNews24 described the activities of the Italian military to counter improvised explosive devices (w atch video 4 ) . >>> READ MORE @ https://ambkabul.esteri.it

Turkey's interest in expanding trade relations with Afghanistan

Turkish Deputy Minister of Economy Fatih Metin, during his recent visit to Kabul-Afghanistan said his country is interested in expanding trade relations with Afghanistan and prepared to provide raw materials to local manufacturing companies. Metin said the Turkey's private sector is also willing to invest in Afghanistan’s energy production, mining and agriculture sectors.

The success of airlines in Afghanistan has become a conundrum

Unending problems of Afghan airlines - The success of airlines in Afghanistan has become a conundrum. Over the last decade, three airlines collapsed and the remaining ones are also teetering on the brink of becoming defunct. Banned from flying into European airspace, Afghan air carriers are now not even allowed to go to the United Arab Emirates.  Head of Afghanistan Civil Aviation Authority, Mahamood Shah Habibi,  was questioned by lawmakers on December 2017 over alleged  corruption in appointments, collection of revenues and other problems.   >>> Read more  Experts blame poor management, flaws in laws, investment in dilapidated planes, and weak communication with foreigners for the failures of Afghan airlines. An expert, Esmatuallah Wardak, tells The Heart of Asia that Afghan businessmen with no experience and education in aviation purchased old planes at a very high price, which were unable to compete with foreign air carriers. “On the one hand, they had bough

Afghan govt trying to market Afghanistan’s marble around the world, especially in China and Arab countries

Afghanistan to build 2 big solar energy projects in eastern provinces

The Afghanistan’s electricity company, Da Afghanistan Breshna Sherkat (DABS), announced that two big solar energy projects will be built in the east of the country with the help of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank. The project, which will cost about 300,000,000 US dollars, will have a power output capacity of 200 megawatts. The two solar parks will supply power to eastern Nangarhar and Laghman provinces.

Afghanistan starts to issue biz license at the price of about one (1) euro

In order to improve Afghanistan's position in World Bank Business Indicators, the Business Licensing Directorate of the Ministry of Commerce and Industries of Afghanistan reduced business license registration fees from 30,000 Afs (about 350 Euro) to 100 Afs (about 1 Euro). The Ministry of Commerce and Industries has also the faculty to issue and renew the business license of a company, taking into account clear criteria including tax clearance, establishing the identity of the company through biometrics, and in the case of non-renewal, the business license will be suspended in accordance with the abolition law and the company's activity will be stopped. About Business Licensing Directorate: The Business Licensing Directorate of the Ministry of Commerce and Industries of Afghanistan is responsible for the administration of six licences: four trader (both importers and exporters) licences, one for freight operators, and a licence for brokers operating on behalf of the Mini

Today in a street of the beautiful Herat, the third-largest city of Afghanistan

#Foreign_Currency #Exchange_Rates #EUR #USD #Afghanis Thursday, April 12, 2018 http:// IvoTONIUT.com   Doing #Business in #Afghanistan & Neighboring Countries #InvestInAFG

Future of Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas-pipeline depends on Pakistan’s political will and a shift in its regional outlook

The Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline is unarguably one of biggest energy projects in the region. The planned pipeline has a total length of 1,814 kilometers: 214 km in Turkmenistan, 774 km in Afghanistan, and 826 km in Pakistan to reach Fazilka on the India-Pakistan border. The project is planned for 30 years, with a total estimated cost of $9.9 billion. The pipeline would have the capacity to supply 33 billion cubic meters (bcm) of gas from the world’s fourth-largest natural gas reserves in Daulatabad of Turkmenistan; Pakistan and India would receive 42 percent each with 16 percent going to Afghanistan. In addition to receiving 5.22 bcm of gas annually, Afghanistan would get around $400 million each year from transit revenue. The construction of the Turkmen section of the pipeline started in December 2015 while the Afghan section was launched on February 23, 2018 in the Afghan province of Herat in a ceremony attended by the Afghan and Turkmen presidents, I

Today in a street of Mazari Sharif, Afghanistan's largest northern City

# Foreign_Currency #Exchange_Rates #EUR #USD #Afghanis Tuesday, April 10, 2018 http:// IvoTONIUT.com   Doing #Business in #Afghanistan & Neighboring Countries #InvestInAFG

For a teenage Afghan woman the honey business is booming and demand is still said to be increasing

Honey money: Afghanistan's teen bee-businesswoman Beekeeping is being used as a way of helping Afghanistan's economy and to counter the opium trade. But it also gives women the chance to earn money, in a country where many rarely work outside their homes. And one female student is now running her own successful honey business.

Afghan Ministry of Economy tackling value chain to boost economy

Ministry of Economy said it had started work on developing the value chain of 15 types of domestic products in order to boost the national economy. The ministry said a strategy had been developed to increase the value of a number of domestic products and to address challenges in the production, processing and packaging areas of these goods so as to increase their value on global markets. Officials said with the improvements, the sale of these goods would help boost national revenue. “In order to identify the goods that can boost national and local economies through added value, we will implement specific programs and prioritize (plans to promote) these products,” said Mohammad Ismail Rahimi, deputy minister of economy. Meanwhile, the ministry of mines and petroleum (MoMP) said that based on the ministry’s plan, the MoE will also look at attracting investment in the mining sector – specifically the extraction of the stones used in the construction sector. MoMP officials said mining in t

Today in a street of Kabul, Afghanistan, one of the largest and fastest growing capital cities in the world

#ForeignCurrency # ExchangeRates #EUR #USD #Afghanis Doing Business in Afghanistan #InvestInAFG http:// IvoTONIUT.com