Italy agreed to support the development of Herat airport in western Afghanistan

Italy has agreed to develop biggest cargo airport in Afghanistan on Herat airport that is located in Western part of the country. To help Afghanistan, Italy will provide a financial assistance of 200 million dollar to Afghanistan. To this effect an agreement was signed between Italy and Afghanistan in Kabul in third week of February 2014.

As per the agreement, the work of the airport development as the country’s largest cargo airport will be completed by 2017. Afghanistan is a land locked country and this geography cuts it from any access to marine trade. This agreement of developing Herat airport as an international cargo airport would help in boosting the economy of Afghanistan.

Background
Italian Development Cooperation has its presence in Afghanistan mainly in Kabul and Herat Province since 2001 to support civilian reconstruction and development in order to reduce poverty along with improvement of governance. Afghanistan is the largest recipient of Italian development aid in the world, as Italy has supported the country with over 500 Mio Euro.

The objective of Italian Cooperation with Afghanistan is to develop the capacities of Afghan men and women to drive forward economic, social and political development in their country on their own terms and initiative.

In line with the Afghan Government’s objectives and the National Priority Programs defined at the Kabul Conference of 2010, the Italian Development Cooperation focuses on the following priority areas:
• Security
• Governance
• Justice
• Education
• Gender
• Health
• Agriculture and Rural Development
• Infrastructures

The Italian Development Cooperation is also particularly engaged in assisting victims in humanitarian crises in order to reduce the vulnerability and alleviate poverty of affected populations in this region.