UAE to build 3,330 houses in Afghanistan
In line with its drive to support development process in the developing countries, the Acting Director General of Abu Dhabi fund for Development, Mohammed Saif Al Suwaidi and his accompanying delegation attended the ceremony of laying the foundation stone for the housing project in Kabul, Afghanistan, which cost $182.58 million (Dh670.6 million).
The ceremony which took place in Afghanistan was attended by Afghan President Hamid Karzai, and from the UAE side attended Saeed Mohammed AlShamsi, Assistant Secretary of State for International Organization Affairs and Chancellor Jumah AlKaabi on behalf of the UAE Ambassador, in addition to the large presence of ministers, top officials and ambassadors in the country.
Funding of this vital project came under the directives of His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, which called for supporting the reconstruction of Afghanistan, where Abu Dhabi government has allocated a grant of $250 million (Dh918 million) for the Government of Afghanistan in order to participate in international efforts to support development programs in Afghanistan.
Administered by the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development, the grant will fund a number of vital developmental projects that will contribute to the reconstruction of Afghanistan, including this housing project which aims to provide a number of housing units to meet the needs of the Afghan capital from the severe shortage in the number of housing units required, as well as to relieve pressure on cities and urban areas.
The housing project consists of the construction of 3,330 housing units in the capital, Kabul, on a total area of 53.8 hectares; these units were designed in line with the pattern of family life for Afghan families.
On this occasion, Mohammed Saif Al Suwaidi, Acting Director General of ADFD said: “The grant will effectively contribute to the support of the Afghan government's efforts to achieve comprehensive development, which seeks to obtain, and would enable them to face their development difficulties, and to implement efficient plans to uplift the living standards of their people.”
Al Suwaidi also stressed the keenness of the government of Abu Dhabi to support the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and be always a key partner in contributing to advance the process of social and economic growth and meet the needs of sustainable development in Afghanistan.
It’s worth mentioning that ADFD involvement in Islamic Republic of Afghanistan goes back to 1977. ADFD has since then offered and managed grants and loan totaling around Dh1.045 billion focused on the sectors most influential in the development process in Afghanistan, as it financed 13 projects aimed to strengthen and accelerating social and economic development in the country.