Acting Minister of Finance: Afghanistan Can be an Economic Crossroad and Asian Transit and Connectivity Center
H.E. Prof. Mohammad Humayon Qayoumi, Acting Minster of Finance and Chief Advisor on Infrastructure to H.E. the President, in order to attend the 4th annual meeting of AIIB, in a seminar called “Asia and Europe Connectivity through Cooperation” held dated July 12, 2019 in Luxembourg, talked about regional important projects, Afghanistan’s central role in merchandize and oil and gas energy of Middle East to South Asia, Afghanistan’s Self-Reliance Strategy, Afghanistan’s Investment Package to achieve sustainable economic growth and self-sufficiency, Afghanistan’s connectivity to Asian and Europe in presence of Mr. Pierre Gramegna, Finance Minister of Luxembourg, Mr. Danny Alexander, Vice President and Corporate Secretary of AIIB, Prof. Danny Quah, Dean of Lee Kuan Yew school of public policy and Dr. Zeti Akhtar Aziz, International Advisory Panel member.
Acting Minister of Finance stated that Afghanistan has an privileged position among the countries of Central Asia, South Asia and Middle East, which has created many opportunities for transit and connectivity. Afghanistan can be an economic corridors and Asian Transit and Connectivity Center.
H.E. Minister Qayoumi said that, the Central Asian countries have the most energy reserves, but due to lack of transit infrastructure they cannot transfer energy to South Asia which is the world’s largest energy consumer. He added that, if it is invested on Afghanistan transit