KABUL (TCA) — The World Bank says the Geneva conference on Afghanistan to be held in September will be important for the country for ensuring continued support by the international community towards Afghanistan in the years to come, Afghan broadcaster TOLOnews reports.
Speaking to TOLOnews, World Bank country director for Afghanistan Shubham Chaudhuri said that at the conference, donors will assess the performance of the National Unity Government and its programs in order to boost Afghanistan’s economic situation in the future and to improve good governance.
Meanwhile, officials of the Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Industries (ACCI) said that the private sector in Afghanistan still faces serious challenges despite the NUG leaders’ commitments to the international community at the Brussels Summit to tackle their problems.
According to ACCI, the Afghan private sector and business community continue to grapple with serious problems in Afghanistan despite government’s pledges to help.
ACCI said that insecurity, kidnappings for ransom, lack of infrastructure, shortcomings in the law, and corruption in government institutions are among the top challenges the private sector faces.
“The national unity government has to some extent cooperated with the private sector, but the main problems for the private sector have not been resolved so far, however, at most conferences, it is stated that security issues were being tackled and serious steps taken against corruption, laws have been changed, infrastructure has been established,” said ACCI chief Khan Jan Alokozai.
The goal of the upcoming Geneva Ministerial Conference on Afghanistan is to show the solidarity of the international community with the Afghan people and the government in their efforts for peace and prosperity; and for the Afghan government to renew its commitment to development and reform.
The Geneva Ministerial Conference on Afghanistan will be held between two pledging conferences: the Brussels Conference on Afghanistan (2016) and the next pledging conference expected to be held in 2020.
