UAE committed to Afghanistan long-term, diplomat says

Panelists at UN event shared their views on how the economy of Afghanistan could be improved, and the importance to increase investment in the national economy.

The UAE is committed to being a long-standing partner of Afghanistan and of its recently elected government, the UAE’s permanent representative to the United Nations said on Sunday.

Lana Zaki Nusseibeh chaired a panel at the UN on the “Political and Economic Transition in Afghanistan”, the state news agency Wam reported.

The panel met following the release of Afghanistan Reconnected: Regional Economic Security Beyond 2014, a report that served as the culmination of four meetings organised by East-West Institute.

The meetings, held with the UAE’s support, took place in Istanbul, Islamabad, New Delhi and Berlin over the past two years, and featured discussions on cross-border economic challenges and opportunities.

Leaders from Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Turkmenistan, Iran, China, the European Union, the United States and other nations, were able to exchange ideas, identify opportunities and clarify obstacles to growth.

The panel was part of a series of consultations by the East-West Institute and the Abu Dhabi Process, an initiative designed to address regional economic security issues in Afghanistan post-2014 and jointly funded by the UAE and Germany.

During the discussion, Ms Nusseibeh said it was relevant to discuss the issue at the UN as the international community gears itself towards taking the next step – identifying the role of the UN and how to boost it further.

The delegates were asked to share their views on how regional representatives could help lessen the negative impact of the withdrawal of international troops and promote continued growth in Afghanistan.

The panel members shared their views on how the economy of Afghanistan could be improved, and the importance to increase investment in the national economy.

They also discussed the important link between economic development and security, and the challenges posed by the illegal drug supply, trafficking and illicit drug trade.