RECCA Conference Kicks Off In Kabul: MoFA
KABUL: (Middle East Press) The sixth Regional Economic Cooperation Conference on Afghanistan (RECCA) has officially kicked off in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) of Afghanistan on Thursday in Kabul with Deputy Foreign Minister Hekmat Khalil Karzai formerly welcoming representatives.
The two days conference will be attended by the Ministers from 30 countries and representatives from at least 40 international organizations.
The main topics of discussion in the conference will include economic projects, transit and trade cooperation, customs systems, employing of Afghan workers in Gulf countries, connecting Afghanistan with regional countries and an alternate transit route, said MoFA.
Karzai said delegates will also revisit commitments made at the previous RECCA Summit, that was held in Dushanbe, in Tajikistan, in 2012.
The deputy minister went on to say that delegates will in the next two days also look at finding solutions for challenges that lie ahead.
He said the summit was critical for the region in terms of economic growth and development, adding that he hopes the work done during the next two days will be followed through and implemented.
He assured delegates that Afghanistan was committed to working with the countries in the region.
In turn, Sattar Murad, the Minister of Economy, also welcomed the delegates and in his speech said that Afghanistan currently needs assistance from foreign countries.
He said that although Afghanistan was working hard at increasing government’s revenue, the economy is struggling. He said one of government’s main areas of concern is that of the weak Afghan currency.
Since 2005, RECCA has provided a forum for regional engagement on economic cooperation. Critical to its success has been keeping pace with global, regional, and domestic economic shifts, and providing a platform for regional and donor governments for a more coordinated investment framework, while also availing itself of emerging investment opportunities, including for the private sector.
