Russia offers electricity to Afghanistan at reduced rate

KABUL (Pajhwok): Chief Executive Officer Abdullah Abdullah on Wednesday urged Russia to increase cooperation with Afghanistan in areas of trade, economic development and energy.

This was stated by Abdullah during a meeting with Russia’s deputy energy minister Yury Sentyurin, who called on him at his office in Kabul, the CEO’s office said in a statement.

At their meeting, they discussed work, last three meetings and future activities of the Afghanistan-Russia joint inter-govemental economic commission.

Abdullah said the Afghan govement would explore ways how to improve trade relations with Russia and would work to resolve basic problems in this regard after identifying them.

He hoped the upcoming visit by the Russian energy minister would pave the ground for increased cooperation between the two countries in the energy sector.

He also stressed improved relations between the two countries in transit trade and transport sectors and said relaxation of the visa regime for Afghan traders to visit the federation was important.

Abdullah said besides meetings of the joint economic commotion, the plaed agreements on cooperation on ministries level should also be finalized and related legal accords signed as soon as possible.

The Russian deputy energy minister said the third meeting of the joint economic commission which took place in Kabul was attended by Russian trades who wanted to pave the ground for Russian investment in Afghanistan.

Yury Sentyurin added his country was working on a new memorandum of understanding aimed at encouraging Russian investment in Afghanistan. He said the document would be finalized in near future and later concluded.

He said Russia was ready to export electricity to Afghanistan on reduced rates and also share its expertise in this regard with the Afghan departments conceed.

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