Russia, Iran, Pakistan firms in $1 bln memorandum with Afghanistan

MOSCOW, Mar 3 (PRIME) -- The Industry and Trade Ministry of Afghanistan, Russian business representatives, Iranian investors and Pakistani experts signed a U.S. $1 billion infrastructure projects memorandum at the start of February, a representative for the Russian Foreign Ministry told PRIME on Friday.

"Information concerning the establishment of a $1 billion trade union between Russia and Afghanistan based on inaccurate public interpretation of an agreement reached by the Afghan authorities with a Russian private company," the official said.

"Under a quadrilateral – the Afgan Industry and Trade Ministry, a group of Iranian investors, a group of Pakistani specialists and Russian business representatives – memorandum of intent on some infrastructure projects on the territory of Afghanistan signed in Kabul on February 5, Russia’s KR Holding plans to build a coal-fired thermal power plant with a capacity of 200 MW in the Samangan province.”

The memorandum also envisages construction of a car road from Kabul to the Nimruz province, upgrade of the Salang tunnel, water supply system Panjsher-Kabul, production of mineral resources, upgrade of a gas pipeline in the Herat province, development of coal deposits and construction of water treatment plants.

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