His Excellency Mohammad Ashraf Ghani, President of Afghanistan, inaugurated the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development (ADFD) financed Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed City Housing Complex in Afghanistan. Located in the Qasaba district of Afghanistan’s capital Kabul, ADFD contributed an estimated AED708 million to thesocial housing development project.

His Excellency Mohammed Saif Al Suwaidi, Director General of ADFD,led the delegation that represented the Fund at the opening ceremony. Also, present at the event were His Excellency Saif Al Shamsi, Charge d'affaires at the UAE Embassy in Afghanistan, His Excellency Sadat Mansoor Nader, Afghan Minister of Urban Development and Housing,and several high-ranking Afghan officials.

Speaking at the ceremony, His Excellency Mohammed Saif Al Suwaidi, said: “We are witnessing the opening of an important and strategic project that supports the social housing sector in Afghanistan. In line with the directive of the UAE President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan to support the Afghan government’s housing development goals, the construction was funded by the ADFD-managed Abu Dhabi government grant earmarked for Afghanistan. Not only will this crucial project provide adequate housing for thousands of Afghan citizens, it also will go a long way in bolstering the country's social housing sector.”

In addition, His Excellency Al Suwaidi praised the Afghan government'sdecision to name the new residential city after His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan. He also commended the cooperation of the Afghan side in enabling the timely completion of the project.

His Excellency Al Suwaidi added: “ADFD is committed to supportingthe Afghan government in overcoming the challenges facing Afghanistan, reaching the country’s desired development goals, and achieving long-term prosperity.”

Aimed at increasing the supply of affordable accommodation options in the country, the crucial project encompasses 3,330residentialunits. Including extensive infrastructure works such as roads, water, and electricity networks and support services, the project seeks to elevate living standards for its residents through its power stations that generate 22 megawatts of energywith minimal downtime.

For his part, His Excellency Sadat Mansoor Nader praised the efforts of the UAE in implementing humanitarian and development programmes in Afghanistan that help improve the quality of life of its people. He noted that the 53.8-hectare project will go a long way in driving stability and social security in the capital through providing adequate housing to suit the family lifestyle of thousands of Afghan families.

Since it first commenced supporting development projects in Afghanistan in 1977, ADFD has allocated AED1.2 billion towards the development of 14 projects that contributed to the economic and social development of the countrymost notably in sectors including housing, social services, health, education, transport and industry.

The Fund continued its growing synergies with the Afghan government over four decades, starting with the first ADFD-funded project in Afghanistan, the Baghlan Sugar Factory, where it worked to disintegrate the agricultural sector and boost employment. The Fund also rehabilitated a network of major roads and bridges In Kabul, as well as the Mazar-i-Sharif Airport.

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