Japan pledges $22mn for Economic & Social Development Program in Afghanistan

Japan has pledged to provide USD 22mn for the Economic and Social Development Program in Afghanistan.

An agreement to that effect was signed between Japan’s Ambassador Hiroshi Takahashi and Afhan Foreign Minister  Salahuddin Rabbani in Kabul on Sunday.

“We hope the Afghan government will use the program properly to solve its financial problems and to implement development projects for the benefit of the people,” said Takahashi.

The grant covers the cost for purchasing materials necessary for economic and social development of the Afghan government, including items such as fuels and gas.

Japan has been strongly supporting Afghanistan’s nation-building efforts in a wide range of fields from security to economic and social development, providing assistance in various sectors including agriculture, education, health, infrastructure, rural development, and human capacity development. Cumulative Japanese assistance to Afghanistan since 2001 amounts to USD 6.131 billion.