‘Efforts continue to resume World Bank projects in Afghanistan’: MoF

KABUL (TOLOnews): The Islamic Emirate’s Ministry of Finance said that efforts are being made to resume World Bank projects in Afghanistan following David Malpas, the president of the World Bank, announcing that he will leave his position in June.

The World Bank supports programs in Afghanistan in the areas of health, agriculture, rural development, and other sectors, the ministry said, adding that the bank has begun working on a number of these projects.

“There are some projects whose work has been completed from 90 to 95 percent, and all of them have been suspended. The Ministry of Finance has been working with all the donors since the Islamic Emirate took office to convince the World Bank to come and begin its unfinished projects,” said Ahmad Wali Haqmal, the ministry’s spokesperson.

“They should focus on the production and employment sectors through financial support of development projects. The economic status of our people can be improved more effectively,” said Abdul Rahman Habib, the Ministry of Economy’s spokesperson.

Economists said that the World Bank’s support for Afghanistan over the last 20 years has been crucial and that the bank’s new leadership won’t have an impact on America’s financial goals.

“The World Bank is one of the major sources of funding for large-scale projects and budgets in Afghanistan, and it has previously provided remarkable assistance and such effects across the whole world,” said Sayed Masoud, an economist.

“The World Bank has played a major role in Afghanistan’s economy, notably during the past 20 years. Also, since David Malpas took over as World Bank president, he has made crucial decisions about various projects in Afghanistan that have been effective for the Afghan economy,” said Seyar Qureshi, another economist. US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen praised Malpas’ four years of service at the World Bank and said that the world has benefited from his strong support and vital work to help the people of Afghanistan and low-income countries.

David Malpas, who was nominated in 2019 for a five-year term by President Donald J. Trump, has overseen an organization that lends billions of dollars each year to poor countries grappling with health crises, hunger, conflict and a warming planet.