Asian Development Bank said it will provide more than US$300 million to fund projects in Afghanistan in 2013, indicating the funds will be spent in three main areas.
The three most prominent projects for the ADB are to import electricity from Turkmenistan to three southern provinces, to construct a number of average dams on rivers in Bamiyan and Badakhshan and reconstructing irrigation systems, and providing investment opportunities for the country's mines.
"For this year, as a minimum we are allocating about $300 million, and this will be increased with the support from the co-financing funds. This shows our commitment to the country, and our full commitment to see after 2014," said Joji Tokeshi, Country Director for ADB Afghanistan at a press conference Thursday.
Marking the bank's interest in hydropower projects, the ADB director pointed out the bank is making a master plan of the energy sector along with the government and other donors to the country.
"We are interested in supporting the hydropower development, however it would be irresponsible if we just put in the money...because the important part of infrastructure is operation and maintenance of the infrastructure. So for that purpose we have to be very careful about that and what are the priorities. There are many projects, [but] what is the priority? That is why ADB is preparing with the government and other donors what is called the master plan of the energy sector in which we will make the priorities," Tokeshi said.
The ADB is one of the largest donors to Afghanistan, committing US$1.2 billion by the end of 2016 at the Tokyo Summit in July.