KABUL (SW): Capital Kabul will host a number of regional and global dignitaries 3-4 September for the high-profile Regional Economic Cooperation Conference on Afghanistan (RECCA) that is seen crucial in strengthening the country’s trade ties with the world.
REECA conference comes at a time when Afghanistan is in dire need of expanding its economic relations with neighboring countries. The Conference’s main focus will be on expanding economic cooperation particularly between the regional countries.
According to Shekib Mustaqhni, Spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, officials and representatives of some 70 countries and organizations would take part in the two-day event. Considering the shrinking foreign presence and aid, RECCA VI provides a much needed opportunity for the Kabul government to explore new avenues of revenue.
On various international forums, President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani has shared his vision of turning Afghanistan into a regional trade and business hub as it used to be when the ancient Silk Route was the main source of connectivity in this part of the world. Hence the theme for RECCA VI is “The Silk Road through Afghanistan”.
Towards achieving goal, some mega projects have already been are picking up momentum like the two emerging energy corridors TAPI and CASA 1000. Additional momentum is being generating by the large-scale financial commitment that India and China are making to the region, which the ports of Chabahar and Gwadar will figure prominently in. The Lapis Lazuli and the Five Nations Railway project corridors are additional contributors to regional momentum.
Ghani has made it clear to energy starved India and Pakistan that with their cooperation, Afghanistan can serve as bridge between them and the energy-rich Central Asia Countries. RECCA VI provides an opportunity to all of them to take the negotiations to the next level.
Considering the fact that Afghanistan sits on mineral wealth estimated worth in trillions of dollars could be another potential aspect of interest for the established and emerging economic powers of the region and the world. The proven fact that regional economic integration and measures to end poverty can shape the political environment provides another perspective to the Afghan government in strengthening its anti-terrorism campaign and ultimately bringing peace to the country.
A meeting between Pakistani and Afghan officials is expected to take place on the sidelines of the events, to address issues that have disrupted the process of normalization of relations between the two countries. Over the weekend, the German Foreign Minister Frank Walter Steinmeir as well as the U.S. National Security Advisor Susan Rice urged both the countries to resume contacts. Rice told Pakistani leaders in meetings on Sunday that her government wished to see “a return to the positive climate” between the two countries.
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