16 October 2018

ADB Supports New Road Project to Improve Connectivity in Afghanistan

PARWAN, AFGHANISTAN (16 October 2018) — Afghanistan President Mr. Mohammad Ashraf Ghani yesterday inaugurated the first phase of a 51-kilometer (km) road section connecting Jabul Saraj to Nijrab road in Parwan province, which is supported by the Asian Development Bank (ADB). The road will improve Afghanistan’s transport network; increase connectivity, efficiency, and effectiveness of land transport; and widen economic and social opportunities. It also supports Afghanistan’s broader strategy to develop priority transport routes, increase movement of goods and services, as well as provide better connectivity for people and businesses.

 President Ghani was joined by the Minister of Public Works Mr. Yama Yari, senior government officials, parliamentarians, and officials from Parwan’s local government at the inauguration ceremony in Parwan province.

“ADB is proud to be Afghanistan’s largest development partner in transport sector development,” said ADB Country Director for Afghanistan Mr. Samuel Tumiwa. “The project will improve domestic and regional connectivity while widening access to social and economic opportunities.”

The project is financed from a $222 million grant from ADB under the Transport Network Development Investment Program. ADB’s investment program supports the reconstruction of a total of 145 km of national and regional highways.

Afghanistan is a founding member of ADB, and, to date, it has received over $4.7 billion in grants and loans. ADB was one of the first organizations to respond to the need to repair Afghanistan’s transport system, which had been destroyed by years of war. Since 2002, ADB has provided $2.2 billion for 17 key road projects to construct or upgrade over 1,700 km of regional and national roads across Afghanistan.

ADB is committed to achieving a prosperous, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable Asia and the Pacific, while sustaining its efforts to eradicate extreme poverty. Established in 1966, it is owned by 67 members—48 from the region. In 2017, ADB operations totaled $32.2 billion, including $11.9 billion in cofinancing.

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