Iran-Afghanistan Sign Agreement On Housing, Urban Projects

Tehran, July 3, IRNA – Iran and Afghanistan signed an agreement on housing and urban projects. The agreement was signed by Iran's Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs Ali Nikzad and his Afghan counterpart Hassan Abdollahi. According to the agreement, 60 Afghan experts will take part in a training course in Iran to become familiar with the latest achievements of the Iranian researchers in the area. The two countries will exchange experiences on research, training and new construction methods. Based on the agreement, Iran will also export technical and engineering services to Afghanistan. During the signing ceremony of the agreement, the Iranian minister said that one joint project underway is the Khaf-Herat railway which is being constructed in three phases. According to the minister, the railway runs for 172 kms of which 78 kms is inside the Iranian soil. Afghan capital needs new residential units due to its growing population, Nikzadsaid said, adding that Iran is studying housing projects in Afghanistan. He also referred to the railway project among Iran, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and China as being in its preliminary research phases. Abdollahi said the decade ahead for Afghanistan is an important one because during the time Afghanistan will not only think of reinforcing stability but also try to gain progress in different areas especially urban development./end