Monday, July 20, 2015
Kabul (BNA) India has invested and spent $ 220m for the construction of the new building of the parliament which is one of the biggest Indian projects for Afghanistan and is expected to be utilized in six months.
During his visit of the new building of the parliament, the Indian ambassador Amir Shnha said, “This construction is one of the highest signs of India-Afghanistan friendship which is symbol of democracy in Afghanistan and gift of one democracy to other democracy.
Ambassador Sinha added, “Now we are sure that the new parliament and new parliamentarian will start their activities here. In my opinion this is key and important issue. All workers here are Afghans and Afghan companies have fulfilled projects of this parliament.
Minister of State for parliamentary affairs Nabi Farahi said, “The new building of parliament is a good example of cooperation of India and Afghanistan. The Afghans would never forget cooperation any country. It is a pleasure of us that our old friend displayed an example of a good friendship and constructed a high quality building of a good parliament.
Farahi went on to say, “India has been beside the Afghan people during difficult conditions and years and has stretched the hand of cooperation and friendship to the Afghan people. The external work of the new building of parliament in Darul Aman area of Kabul has been completed and the work in its internal halls is intensively going on.
Talking on the construction of the new building of parliament, Minister of Urban Development Sayed Sadat Naderi said, “President Ghani is expected to ask Germany during his upcoming visit to rebuilt Darul Aman historical palaces and the new building of the parliament is an example of India-Afghanistan friendship.
In 2005, ex-president Hamid Karzai had asked India to build new building of the parliament. The new building of the parliament has five separate constructions for house of people, senate, administrative branch and other sections. At present the house has 249 seats while the new building has 360 seats and in the new building 120 seats has been allocated to senators.
The new building has been planned for the next 100 years and is fivefold bigger than the current building. At the beginning $25m was allocated for the building but in order the new building would enjoy all universal standards, the India spent $ 220. The new building has been constructed in an area of 57000 square meters. It was said that 98 percent work of the building is completed and only 2 percent remained.
At the same time a number of economic-political analysts consider relations with India in the benefit of Afghanistan and are in favor of expansion of relations between India and Afghanistan and development of India investment our country.
India is one of the countries that has so far given sincere assistance to Afghanistan and no doubt Indian investments in our country can cause economic development and create employment opportunities and eventually restoration of security.
Beside economic cooperation to Afghanistan, India has made a lot of efforts for training of ANSF and we hope these efforts would continue post 2014. India has played constructive role in capacity building of Afghan government employee.
See P3…
Annually large number of Afghans uses short and long term scholarships of India for vocational training. Large number of Afghan refugees is currently living in India and has never complained on the behavior of Indian people and official authorities which is indicator of friendship and sincerity of India people before the Afghan people. Every year hundreds sick Afghans go to India for treatment.
Alongside the USA, Germany, UK, India has contributed the highest assistance to Afghanistan development Including construction of Salma Dam in Herat province and construction of a road in Nimroz province plus contribution of additional $100m for rebuilding of our projects.
Since 2002, India has contributed over $2 billion for rebuilding of Afghanistan. The Salma Dam project in Herat irrigates thousands hectar lands.
