Ministry of Finance and Government of the Swiss Federal Council Signs Bilateral Development Framework Agreement

Ministry of Finance and Government of the Swiss Federal Council Signs Bilateral Development Framework Agreement
H.E. Eklil Hakimi, Minister of Finance and Mr. Thomas Kolly, Non-Resident Ambassador of Switzerland to Afghanistan, during a press conference in Khybar Hall- Ministry of Finance, signed a Bilateral Development Framework Agreement on Technical Assistance, Financial Cooperation and Humanitarian Assistance.

"The purpose of signing this agreement is established a legal basis to strengthen relations and develop a fruitful technical, humanitarian and financial cooperation between the two countries" said H.E. Eklil Hakimi, Minister of Finance. He also thanked Switzerland who will be hosting Ministerial Conference in Geneva-2018 and for its support to Afghanistan.

"Our assistance to Afghanistan has been long lasting and we have been active in Afghanistan since 1970s." said Mr. Thomas Kolly, non-resident Ambassador of Switzerland to Afghanistan. Our assistance is mainly concentrated civilian sector including agriculture, education, and civil society, and public health, economic and social development." "The agreement forms a legal platform for our joint cooperation" he added.

This Agreement is intended to facilitate realization of technical, humanitarian and financial assistance projects in Afghanistan by ensuring that all projects are aligned with the ANPDF and the NPPs, support the transformation and reform process in Afghanistan and contribute to sustainable socio-economic development, inclusive growth and respect for human rights.

The agreement will cover Technical Assistance in the form of training and consulting, Financial Cooperation in the form supporting Afghan Government's projects and priorities programs and Humanitarian Assistance including emergency and financial aid.

To sum it up, Switzerland supports Afghanistan in agriculture, education, health, social immunity and economic development  and  it approved new development cooperation strategy for 2015- 2018.