Ambassador Wayne, Finance Minister Zakhilwal Sign Food Assistance Agreement
U.S. Ambassador E. Anthony Wayne, Coordinating Director for Development and Economics Affairs, joined Afghan Finance Minister Dr. Omar Zakhilwal in signing a Food for Progress grant which will provide the people of Afghanistan with $17.5 million in soybean oil on June 30 at the Afghan Ministry of Finance. All major Afghan media covered the signing, which received extensive coverage on radio and television.
Ambassador Wayne noted that since 2003, the U.S. has donated over $200 million USD in bilateral food assistance to Afghanistan, and additional aid through multilateral organs. He said that the $17 million contribution today would provide agricultural products to Afghanistan and allow the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Agriculture to work together to strengthen the agricultural capacities of Afghanistan.
Ambassador Wayne added that this agreement was just part of a broader effort to strengthen the rural economic and agricultural sectors. This effort would also include education, building of infrastructure, and training. We would also work to strengthen market linkages so that Afghan farmers could produce better products and have better access to markets. “Our mutual goal will be to create more jobs, better jobs, and a better life for the people of Afghanistan,” Ambassador Wayne said.