Afghanistan - Latest News/Current Events, Economic Overview & Trade Relations
Quick Facts about Afghanistan
| Official Name | Islamic Republic of Afghanistan |
| Capital | Kabul |
| Location | Southern Asia, north and west of Pakistan, east of Iran |
| Area | total: 647,500 sq km land: 647,500 sq km water: 0 sq km |
| Climate | arid to semiarid; cold winters and hot summers |
| Terrain | mostly rugged mountains; plains in north and southwest |
Editor PicksBrowse Asia News Archive
First international fibre optic cable from Afganistan
For the first time, Afghanistan has a project of international fibre optic cable that will open doors to a new age of business. The country will be connect Central Asia to Southeast Asia through an underground cable.
The link would transform Afghanistan into a regional hub for Internet, telephone, television and other services.read source article
Afghanistan to Receive $40 Million for Elections
The current global economic crisis has many countries developing new ways to save money, but fortunately for the government of Afghanistan, that does not mean that they are refraining from continuing their financial support of their elections.
The current global economic crisis has many countries developing new ways to save money, but fortunately for the government of Afghanistan, that does not mean that they are refraining from continuing their financial support of their elections. U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton announced on Monday that the U.S. Government will commit $40 million to aiding the elections that are to take place in Afghanistan this summer. The money will be used to vamp up security, as well as battle the rampant drug trade that exists in the nation, particularly from Afghan poppy seeds.ECO Names New Secretary General
Afgahnistan's Ambassador to Iran, Mohammad Yahya Maorufi, was recently appointed as the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) secretary general.
Afgahnistan's Ambassador to Iran, Mohammad Yahya Maorufi, was recently appointed as the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) secretary general. The decision was made by the ECO heads of states in Tehran on Wednesday. The summit was attended by Afgahn President Hamid Karzai, Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari and Turkish President Abdullah Gul, along with members from Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.read source article
Afghanistan Holds Mineral Treasure: Minister
Afghanistan is a mineral rich nation.
Afghanistan is a mineral rich nation. The country's mine minister is urging foreign firms to invest in oil, gas and iron ore sectors in the largest mineral deposits in the region. The news that Afghanistan might have one of the largest mineral deposits has been reported by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). The report has observed that Afghanistan is probably the richest in the field of minerals, excluding diamonds. According to the USGS survey, Afghanistan's north is estimated to hold between 600 to 700 billion cubic meters of natural gas and overall the nation has 25 million tonnes of oil in four basins.Canada to Provide Money to Enhance Rule of Law in Afghanistan
Canadian Foreign minister Lawrence Cannon announced that Canada will contribute additional aid to improving the rule of law in Afghanistan.
Canadian Foreign minister Lawrence Cannon announced that Canada will contribute additional aid to improving the rule of law in Afghanistan. Canada has pledge 21 million Canadian dollars that will go towards Afghan National Police and prison guards. The money, according to Afghan officials, will be overseen by the UN via a trust fund. The package comes as Canada continues to pledge its support to Afghanistan moving forward with other donation's going toward Afghan's presidential election and improving human rights.read source article
MTN Eyes 25% Growth in Cellphone Customers
Africa's largest cellphone operator by subscribers, MTN, is seeking to increase customers by a quarter this year.
Africa's largest cellphone operator by subscribers, MTN, is seeking to increase customers by a quarter this year. MTN aggressively pursued acquisitions to obtain rights to introduce its products in Nigeria, Iran and Afghanistan in recent years. MTN is said to be cautiously optimistic about 2009 when it reported a 33 percent rise in 2008. The company saw increases in both Nigeria and Iran. The telecommunication has been hit by the global financial crisis but telecommunication companies in developing nations seem to be relatively unscathed as MTN seeks to continue its aggressive strategy targeted at Nigeria, Afghanistan and Iran.Browse Asia News Archive
Trade Agreements
Trade Organizations
Centre on Intergrated Rural Development for Asia and the Pacific (CIRDAP)
The Centre for Integrated Rural Development for Asia and the Pacific (CIRDAP) is a regional intergovernmental and autonomus organization
Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO)
The Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) is an intergovernmental international organization involving ten Asian nations. It provides a platform to discuss ways to improve development and promote trade, and investment opportunities. The nations involved are Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. The common objective is to establish a single market for goods and services, much like the European Union. ECO's secretariat and cultural department are located in Tehran, its economic bureau is in Turkey and its scientific bureau is situated in Pakistan.
South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC)
The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) is an economic and political organization of eight countries in Southern Asia. It was established on December 8, 1985 by India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Maldives and Bhutan. In April 2007, at the Association's 14th summit, Afghanistan became its eighth member.