Ministry of Communications and IT and USAID sign $1 million contract for IT Development

Kalbul, May 05, 2009 (Ministry of Communications)- The ministry and United States Agency for International Development (USAID) signed a one million USD agreement to improve and develop Information Technology coverage and infrastructure throughout government institutions, as well as to increase access to Information Technology for the people of Afghanistan.

The ceremony was attended by H. E. Minister Sangin Minister of Communications and IT, H.E. Deputy Ambassador Francis J. Ricciardone of United States of America, Acting Mission Director of USAID Mr. Peter Argo and other senior officials of the both organizations in the conference room of Ministry of Communications and IT.

Based on this agreement, MCIT will be able to create and strengthen websites of Key Government organizations of the of Islamic Republic of Afghanistan in the capital as well as in 34 provinces of the country, said H. E. Minister Sangin Minister of Communications and IT in the opening remarks of the press conference organized for this purpose.

H. E. Minister Sangin also underlined that MCIT will train and hire local experts for short terms to support MCIT employees to create Chief Information Officers (CIO) in all ministries and governmental institutions.

Later on, H. E. Deputy Ambassador Ricciardoni addressed the press conference and mentioned that today’s initiative is to support the commitment made at the Paris Conference to provide more international aid directly to the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and further added that Ministry of Communications and Information Technology is a capable partner that has demonstrated proper oversight of its funding, transparency and accountability in procurement and project management.

H. E. Deputy Ambaasador Ricciardoni also reconfirmed his government’s commitments to support the government of Afghanistan in the future to develop its related responsibilities in the country.

In closing, the agreement was signed by H. E. Minister Sangin and H. E. Deputy Ambassador Ricciardoni.