NEW DELHI, 10 April 2006 — Expanding economic cooperation between India and Afghanistan is the focus of Afghan President Hamid Karzai’s four-day visit. He arrived here yesterday and was received at the airport by Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Suresh Pachouri.
Karzai will hold talks with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today. He will also call on President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam and Vice President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, besides meeting United Progressive Alliance Chairperson Sonia Gandhi and other dignitaries. The Afghan president met Minister of State for External Affairs E. Ahamed yesterday evening
Expressing appreciation for assistance given by India, Karzai told India’s state television, Doordarshan: “Well, we are very happy in Afghanistan with India helping us in a manner that is not expected.” His comments were aired just before his arrival.
“India went out of its way to provide us with great economic assistance. India’s help has reached up to $600 million. It has helped us in all walks of life,” Karzai said.
Manmohan and Karzai are expected to discuss a host of bilateral and regional issues, including recent violence in Afghanistan. Karzai is likely to ask for an increase in India’s assistance in building development projects, ranging from roads and power projects to education and small-scale industries. The two leaders will also touch on security of 2,000 Indian workers in Afghanistan. An Indian worker was murdered last year by Taleban militants.
Karzai is accompanied by a high-level delegation that includes 10 ministers. His visit will be marked by the signing of three memorandums of understanding (MOUs) on rural development, education exchange program and standardization between the Bureau of Indian Standards and the Afghan National Standardization Authority.
With a the focus of his visit on enhancing business ties, Karzai and the delegation accompanying him will attend a joint business meeting hosted by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry (ASSOCHAM).
During his interaction with Indian business leaders, Karzai is likely to ask them to invest in Afghanistan.
The Indian business community is exploring options along this line. According to a paper, prepared by ASSOCHAM: “The entire region is full of hydro-carbon resources and the potential of the region can well be explored by upstream companies in oil sectors like ONGC and Oil India Limited.”
The paper, “Afghanistan: A bridge between India’s increased trade and economic interactions with Central Asia”, underlines potential of Afghanistan to further India’s economic relationship with Central Asian, Caspian Sea region and CIS (Commonwealth of Independent States) countries.
Besides, both countries can gain, with vthe olume of trade reaching $700 million by 2010 from current level of less than $500 million, the paper said. While in Delhi, Karzai will inaugurate the first ever Festival of Afghanistan at Ashoka Hotel tomorrow.
In Hyderabad, Karzai will visit Hi-Tech City, Tata Consultancy Services Ltd., National Remote Sensing Agency and a rural development project, organized by National Institute of Rural Development.
