Germany provides 327m afs for Afghan extractive sector

KABUL’s extractive sector.

A statement from German Corporation for International Cooperation or GIZ received by Pajhwok Afghan News said the implementation agreement of the program was signed between Acting Mines and Petroleum Minister Nargis Nehan and GIZ.

“The aim of this project is increasing state revenues, promoting investment and curbing corruption in the sector,” the statement said, adding the Afghan-German Cooperation was funding the programmer’s current phase with over 327 million afghanis.

“Today is a milestone for us. With the German Cooperation’s assistance, we can ensure that our abundant mineral resources are a blessing for our country,” the statement quoted Nehan as saying.

She said today’s agreement would her ministry move forward and continue taking on challenges together with German partners,

Dr. Dominik Schmid, a representative of the German Embassy, on the occasion, said, “We can only go as far as our partners go, contributions from both sides are needed. We see a lot of progress from the past months, so we’re glad to continue the support.”

The program for improving good governance in Afghanistan’s extractive sector is closely matches the MoMP agenda for reform and fighting corruption in the ministry.

“This phase of the program started in December of 2018 and would continue until November of 2020 and the period would possibly be extended for another two years”, the statement said.

It said the program would be implemented by GIZ on behalf of the Germany’s Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development.

Mds/ma