KHOROG, Jan 11, 2010 (Asia Pulse Data Source via COMTEX) —
A joint commission of local authorities of Gorno Badakhshan and Afghanistan’s Badakhshan province met in Khorog, the capital of Gorno Badakhshan.
Ms. Husnoro Dodikhudoyeva, a spokeswoman for the Aga Khan Foundation (AKF) Tajikistan, told Asia-Plus that the meeting took place on an initiative of the Association of Entrepreneurs of Gorno Badakhshan, Milal-Inter, under support of the German Agency for Technical Cooperation (GTZ), OSCE Office in Tajikistan and the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) Tajikistan. According to her, the meeting brought together 20 representatives from local authorities of the neighboring provinces to discuss the progress of implementation of a protocol of intent on cooperation that was signed by heads of Gorno Badakhshan and Afghan Badakhshan province in Fayzobod, the capital of Afghan Badakhshan in 2009.The meeting participants expressed satisfaction with the current level of cooperation in developing cross-border trade and in exchange of specialists in the fields of education, health and culture, Ms. Dodikhudoyeva said, noting that they also made proposals on promoting cross-border trade between the regions. Mr. Yodgor Fayzov, CEO of AKF Tajikistan, and Mr. Najmiddin Naim, AKDN program manager in Afghanistan, in particular, noted that the cross-border trade required expansion. According to them, cross-border trade restrictions and transportation of humanitarian cargoes only via official automotive bridges across the Panj River have impeded implementation of projects on providing food and material aid as well as construction of roads in Afghan Badakhshan province. During the meeting, it was also noted that construction of border marketplace was in full swing in the area of Afghan Badakhshan bordering GBAO?s Darvoz district. The sides agreed that it was necessary to consider opportunities of construction of marketplaces on both sides of the bridges Langar and Ishkashim for expansion of the cross-border trade and improvement of transportation of humanitarian cargoes.
Ismailimail 