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ADB President Pledges to be "Strong Partner" to Afghanistan

SHANGHAI, PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA (9 May 2002): Afghanistan is short of basic goods and services, but its people have plenty of enterprise and enthusiasm, said Asian Development Bank (ADB) President, Tadao Chino, at a seminar on Afghanistan preceding ADB's 35th Annual Meeting of the Board of Governors here.

Noting that "extreme poverty breeds despair and instability and Afghanistan has had far too much of both," President Chino pledged that ADB will be a strong partner in helping Afghanistan rebuild its economy.

Mr. Chino said he noted the admirable spirit of the Afghan people during a recent visit to Kabul. He was the first head of a multilateral development bank to visit the Afghan capital since the international community unveiled its assistance plans for Afghanistan's reconstruction.

"Afghanistan for centuries was a regional center for trade and commerce," said President Chino. "We must help recreate the conditions for Afghanistan to resume its historic role."

Hedayat Amin-Arsala, Vice Chairman of the Interim Administration of Afghanistan and Minister of Finance, outlined a vision designed to "leap-frog Afghanistan into the 21 century" and create a "modern, prosperous Afghanistan well integrated with its neighbors and the world community."

He noted that although Afghanistan needed development assistance, Afghans ultimately had to help themselves.

The challenges are enormous, he said, given that Afghanistan is one of the poorest countries in the world with high child mortality rates and other depressing social indicators, especially for women. "But we have begun the process of rebuilding," said Minister Arsala. "Security has greatly improved, and trust and confidence in the Government is growing steadily. Preparations for an Emergency Loya Jirga (Grand National Assembly) in June have lifted spirits and helped to unify the country."

Minister Arsala said that ADB's planned US$200 million assistance package for 2002 and due to be discussed by ADB's Board of Directors shortly, would help jump-start the economy, so that families and individuals can quickly rebuild agriculture and other sectors. The ADB package will focus on three key areas: basic education and social development; reconstruction of transport infrastructure; and agricultural development, with emphasis on rehabilitating the irrigation infrastructure.

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