India pitches for greater pvt investment in Afghanistan

New Delhi pitched for greater private investment in Afghanistan, saying it will help stabilise the country.

New Delhi pitched for greater private investment in Afghanistan, saying it will help stabilise the country.

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At the first investment meet which India hosts for another country, external affairs minister SM Krishna said: "Let the grey suits of company executives take the place of olive green or desert brown fatigues of soldiers and CEOs, the place of Generals. They can also play a larger stabilizing role."

"Every investment is an investment in the future of a country, and an acquisition of a stake in its security and stability together with its own citizens and investors," he added. The minister pointed out that if companies invested together or in numbers, they would all benefit from the collective security of venturing together.

Afghanistan is poised to become a regional trade and transit hub which links the energy-rich Central Asian region with dynamic markets of India, China, Russia, Turkey and other east and south Asian economies, he said. "We need to offer a narrative of opportunity to counter the anxiety of withdrawal, uncertainty, instability and foreign interference," Krishna added.

Afghan foreign minister Zalmal Rassoul said Afghanistan had accorded high priority to private sector. He said the public and private investments in Afghanistan had touched $10 billion this year.