Tuesday, October 25, 2016
Kabul (BNA) The United States Agency for International Development and Ministry of Finance signed four agreements worth USD 791 million to support the Afghan-led sustainable development, a statement from Ministry of Finance said here yesterday, adding USAID Director Herbert Smith and Minister of Finance, Eklil Hakimi signed the agreements.
“These agreements are a testament to the enduring partnership between the American and the Afghan people. Over the next 12-months, this assistance will enable us to implement projects and deliver worthy services to our citizens across Afghanistan,” said Minister of Finance Eklil Hakimi.
Minister Hakimi went on saying that these are some of the first practical steps which are being taken to deliver the commitments and the pledges made at the Brussels Conference to help Afghanistan achieve self-reliance.
USAID Director Herbert Smith said the documents signed begin to implement the multi-year pledges that the United States made at the recent Afghanistan donor’s conference in Brussels, where the U.S. underscored its enduring commitments to the people of Afghanistan and the National Unity Government.
“This document reaffirms U.S. determination to support the government of Afghanistan in efforts to strengthen Afghanistan’s institutions, maintain gains in education and health services achieved in recent years, and improve the welfare of the Afghan people,” Herbert said.
The funds obligated under the agreements will support programs that achieve strategic development objectives, including a thriving economy led by the private sector, a democratic government with broad citizen participation, and a better educated and healthy Afghan population.
