Kabul all poised to host Senior Officials’ Meeting

KABUL (Pajhwok): Third Senior Officials Meeting (SOM) involving representatives of the international community is scheduled to be held at the Presidential Palace in Kabul today (Wednesday).

Afghan government officials would present reports on the commitments they had held out at Tokyo and London conferences to the international community.

The meeting follows last year’s Brussels Conference, where new development assistance pledges through 2020 were made and the London Conference in 2014. The last Senior Officials Meeting was held in Kabul in 2015.

Government officials say the meeting would focus on national issues, policy for financial stability, infrastructure development, private sector role, effectiveness of foreign aid and development cooperation.

The meeting will be attended by international and regional partners, representatives of key international organisations and civil society activists.

The meeting will discuss progress in implementation of Afghanistan’s development and reform agenda, and reaffirm their partnership and commitment to the country’s long-term uplift.

President Ashraf Ghani is expected to open the meeting, which comes exactly a year after the Brussels Conference on Afghanistan, with a keynote address. Chief Executive Abdullah will deliver closing remarks.

Minister of Finance Eklil Hakimi and UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Afghanistan Tadamichi Yamamoto will co-chair the meeting.

The officials and international delegations are scheduled to discuss a range of issues to review progress, achievements and challenges in implementing the Brussels commitments and the Afghanistan National Peace and Development Framework.

The Ministry of Labour, Social, Martyr and Disabled Affairs has declared Wednesday as a public holiday in Kabul for security reasons.

mds/mud