Kabul – Ministry of Foreign Affairs inaugurated the coordination and implementation process of the 6th Regional Economic Cooperation Conference for Afghanistan (RECCA-VI) held on September 03-04, 2016 in Kabul, in two sessions with the participation of the Deputy Ministers, Representatives of the key economic sector of the country, Ambassadors, and international organizations’ Representatives in Kabul.
Deputy Foreign Minister Dr. Naseer Ahmad Andisha, while appreciating the active role of the Ministries and relevant National entities in successful holding of the RECCA-VI, stated that: “The new stimulus established after the successful holding of RECCA-VI and the implementation of the RECCA projects depicts the beginning of a new chapter that contains Afghan Government’s political will for the implementation of the RECCA projects. RECCA-VI proved that the Afghan National entities have the capacity not only to successfully host and manage a huge regional conference on its own, but also design economic projects and define the relations among the region and the world.”
The Economic Cooperation Director of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Wahidullah Waisi provided detailed information regarding the implementation and coordination process of RECCA in the country consisting technical working groups, leadership groups at deputy minister level, and ministers’ commission. The information was discussed and exchanged views on by the participants.
Later on, the coordination and implementation process at regional level were discussed by more than 60 participants including Ambassadors and representatives of the international organizations in separate sessions.
Dr. Andisha besides thanking for the constructive participation and support of the regional countries and international organizations stated that: “RECCA-VI created a consensus among regional countries and international organizations regarding the implementation of economic projects including TAPI, CASA 1000, Lapis Lazuli Corridor, Chabahar Port, Tri and Penta lateral railways, Dry Ports, Economic Zones, and Trade Relations. This is one of the significant achievements of RECCA and the performances of the countries and implantation of the RECCA projects have been intensifies.”
Mr. Waisi talked regarding the RECCA coordination and implementation process at regional level which includes the introduction of the national focal points by 18 regional countries in order to establish implementation group for RECCA projects, which was counted very useful after the discussions and talks regarding the job description of the focal points by the Ambassadors of the regional countries.
It is worth mentioning that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has now placed the implementation of RECCA projects on top of its programs after the successful holding of the RECCA-VI and 10 years from the initiation of RECAA. The Senior Officials Meeting (SOM) in the implementation and coordination process of RECCA at regional level would take place annually in the RECCA framework with the participation of RECCA’s national focal points. The first Senior Official Meeting of RECCA is due to be held at the sideline of the Brussels Conference on October.
RECCA has been initiated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 2005 and has been held every two years in New Delhi, Islamabad, Istanbul, Dushanbe, and Kabul respectively. The recent RECCA has been held in Kabul. The RECCA-VII is due to be held in the capital city of Turkmenistan, Ashgabat, in 2017.