Sunday May 6, 2018
Manila (BNA) Eklil Hakimi, Minister of Finance, on the sidelines of the 51st Annual Meeting of the Asian Development Bank in Manila, Philippines, met H.E.Takehiko Nakao, the President of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Chairperson of ADB's Board of Directors.
In the meeting, both sides discussed ADB’s operations in Afghanistan, the usefulness of the AITF as a mechanism for financing of infrastructure and Mazar – Herat Railway project. President Nakao assured that ADB will seriously consider Mazer-Herat project as a flagship regional initiative between Afghanistan and Uzbekistan.
Additionally, Minister of Finance, in a separate meeting with Mr. Pierre Amilhat, Director DG Development Cooperation of the European Commission, discussed successful implementation of the State Building Contract between Afghanistan and EU, its assistance to the successful implementation of the Brussels commitments, preparations for the upcoming Geneva Conference on Afghanistan and other relevant issues.
Furthermore, following to the meetings, Minister of Finance also met with Mr. Norbert Barthle, the Parliamentary State Secretary and Mr. Dominik Ziller, head of the Directorate-General for International Development Policy at the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development. The parties discussed Germany’s assistance to Afghanistan, progress on reform commitments including anti-corruption efforts and the elections, importance of Geneva conference and other important subjects. Lastly, Minister Hakimi, Met with Mr. Robert Kaproth, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the US Treasury for Asia and discussed Afghanistan’s progress on the IMF program, banking sector reform, support of agriculture, industry and housing sectors. We also discussed US support through the incentive program of the ARTF and other relevant issues.
