In a statement delivered at the “Regional Integration and Prosperity” event in Brussels, Tajik Foreign Minister Sirojiddin Aslov yesterday pointed out the necessity of taking measures to provide security of transport corridors in Afghanistan.
Aslov noted that Tajikistan, which was implementing a series of regional energy, transportation and infrastructure development projects, was interested in peace and stability in Afghanistan.
Tajik minister drew attention of the event participants to the necessity of taking measures to remove obstacles in the way of development of regional trade and transit that meet interests of the Afghan people and economic prosperity of the region, according to the Tajik MFA information department.
Meanwhile, press release issued by the European Commission says the Regional Economic Cooperation event brought together traditional and new donors to emphasize the importance of political support and economic integration at the regional level. Representatives from around the world, including Afghanistan's regional partner countries, as well as the Asian Development Bank, the World Bank, other multilateral organizations and representatives of the Afghan private sector discussed how best to mobilize support for projects with a regional impact and how to promote regional trade and development by linking policy reforms, infrastructure and regional connectivity.
Commissioner for International Cooperation and Development, Neven Mimica, stressed: "We all have much to gain from a peaceful and prosperous Afghanistan. By building better regional infrastructure, respecting the rule of law and fostering a business-friendly environment, Afghanistan – and its regional partners – can become a vibrant regional economic hub. Today's discussions are timely to identify and cultivate the common regional economic interests of Afghanistan and its neighbors. Afghan women can be the key to a prosperous Afghanistan – it is exactly their enormous potential that can make all the difference. Therefore we must create the conditions that will enable women to have equal access to land, resources and finances, and to become full participants in every aspect of the economy."
Participants stressed that regional economic cooperation can create win-win results but requires dedicated, long-term and reliable partnerships. This is especially true for regional infrastructure where financial investments, also by new partners, will begin to pay off in the years to come.
