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U.S. AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
PRESS RELEASE
WASHINGTON, DC 20523
PRESS OFFICE
http://www.usaid.gov
(202) 712-43202002-118
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 10, 2002Contact: USAID Press Office
Kabul, Afghanistan -- On October 1, The United States Government, through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), held two signing ceremonies for grants to the Afghanistan Ministry of Mines and Industry and Ministry of Planning. The grants provide $100,000 for rehabilitation of public buildings and kindergarten/child care facilities. Present at the ceremonies were U.S. Ambassador Robert P. Finn, USAID Mission Director Craig Buck, Minister of Mines and Industries Engineer Joma M. Mohamadi, and Minister of Planning Haji Mohammad Mohaqiq.
These grants will help the government of Afghanistan promote job opportunities for local Afghan contractor employees, and to create a better working environment for government employees. The United States' support for Afghan kindergartens helps increase the participation of women in government work.
Minister Mohamadi, who was visibly pleased at the rapid support, stated that his plans are to "generate revenue from the country's mines and other industries", while at the same time "minimizing government involvement and encouraging privatization." USAID is repairing the Ministry's heating system and kitchen - both identified by Minister Joma M. Mohamadi as priority needs for his building in Kabul.
USAID provides a range of direct support to 26 Afghan government entities in Kabul, Balkh, Faryab, and Maimana, totaling $1.9 million. Besides building refurbishment, many grants enable government offices to provide critical services to the Afghan public. Several grants to the Ministry of Water and Power, for example, provided electricity and electrical repair services for thousands of residents before the start of the Loya Jirga. A grant to the Central Bank is enabling Afghanistan to begin legitimate banking transactions with the outside world, as well as establish communications with regional banks within the country.
For more information on USAID's activities in Afghanistan, please visit www.usaid.gov/afghanistan.
U.S. Agency for International Development is the government agency that has provided humanitarian assistance and economic development worldwide for more than 40 years.
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