KABUL - Finance Minister Eklil Hakimi has said the Afghan delegation would return on a successful note from the Brussels Conference as the government has worked hard to boost its revenue and combat corruption.
As many as 70 foreign ministers and heads of 30 international organisations are taking part in the crucial conference, scheduled for October 4-5. The international community may pledge $3.5 billion in aid over the next four years in the country.
The finance minister told reporters the conference was vital to Afghanistan and hoped the government would impress the international community with the successes it had achieved over the years in different areas.
Earlier, US special representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan Richard Olson said the amount fresh assistance would be provided to Afghanistan on the condition that state institutions would work to eliminate corruption and improve governance.
The finance minister hoped strong economic and political pledges would be made during the upcoming conference and the amount might be processed through the state treasury.
“We had promised the International Monitory Funds (IMF) collecting 132 billion afghanis in revenue. Fortunately, we are on the verge of realizing in the next two months,” the minister said.
He added Afghanistan’s economic growth in 2014 was 0.9 percent, in 2015 1.2 percent and during the ongoing year 2 percent.
Asked about rifts between President Ashraf Ghani and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Abdullah, he said political differences existed in every system in the world.
He argued a clash of opinion it was something natural. In some European countries, Hakimi claimed, there was greater political instability than in Afghanistan. (Pajhwok)