Monday, April 08, 2019
Kabul (BNA) Addressing a gathering marking the International Geologists Day here in Kabul, the second vice president Mohammad Sarwar Danesh said Afghanistan was blessed with rich natural resources which remained untapped until now, a statement from VP press office said yesterday.
VP Danesh went on saying that there were deposits of natural wealth such as iron, silver, coal, uranium, gold, copper and precious stones in the country. “Recent US research shows Afghanistan has natural resources worth trillions of dollars, the country is bestowed with 1400 types of minerals and the Hajigak natural reservoir contains 1,8 billion worth tons of iron,” he said.
VP Danesh, however, said Afghanistan had been unable to exploit its own natural riches due to the lack of capacity.
He stressed the need for undertaking necessary steps to unearth natural opulence and create a long-term strategic policy to utilize the natural resources in the best interest of the country.
The second vice president said the Ministry of Mines was created 80 years back, but it lacked professional human forces.
The government was encouraging local businessmen to invest in natural resources and consider them as national assets, he added.
Danesh termed smuggling and illegal excavation of natural resources as a challenge and stressed protection of natural resources.
Meanwhile, Ambassador Pierre Mayaudon, the European Union Head of Delegation to Afghanistan, said the EU supported Afghanistan’s efforts to exploit its natural resources.
He also termed smuggling and illegal excavation of natural resources a big challenge and demanded an end to the illicit practice.
He suggested the government of Afghanistan in coordination with local shuras should prevent illegal excavation. He said EU investors were interested in investment in Afghanistan’s mining sector and there was need for the establishment of friendly conditions for investment.
