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Afghanistan Weekly Activity Update
October 15 - November 1, 2005 · Issue 105
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(left to right): Minister of Mines & Industries Mir Mohd Sediq, Minister of Commerce Heday at Amin Arsala, U.S Embassy Charge de Affairs Richard Norland, USAID/Afghanistan Mission Director Alonzo Fulgham, and Head of AISA Omar Zakhilwal open Juma Mohammad Mohammadi Industrial Park. |
Juma Mohammad Mohammadi Industrial Park formally opens - On October 26, 2005, the Juma Mohammad Mohammadi Industrial Park opened, with officials from the Government of Afghanistan, members of the international community and local private investors in attendance.
This industrial park is one of three such parks that will be constructed by USAID and managed by the Afghan Investment Support Agency. It is expected that total costs will be around $20 million. The three parks will offer modern, full-service business locations for over 120 new businesses. These businesses will range from manufacturing to services, including dry cleaning, footwear, tailoring, packaging and food production, and are expected to generate about 10,000 new jobs for the Afghan people.
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| The project opened at a river crossing in Qal-i-Now. Road and Roof Construction Company and the International Organization for Migration worked with USAID to complete the project.
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Quick impact projects build foundations for development –USAID recently opened an erosion control project at a river crossing in Qal-i-Now. The project was designed by one of the provincial reconstruction teams. In his speech at the opening, the Provincial Governor praised the project for building a foundation for development projects and employing thousands of Qal-i-Nowresidents. Benefits like these improve the local economy and encourage soldiers to enter the disarmament, demobilization and reintegration process, which helps them put down their weapons, find jobs and play a positive role in their communities.
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| Minister of Women’s Affairs Massouda Jalal cuts the ribbon with LT Col. Rick Broadhead, an engineer for the provincial reconstruction teams (left) and Mayor of Kabul Ghulam Sakhi Noorzad(right).
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| Rebuilding the old Zaenab Cinema. Only the walls were left standing after the Taliban burned the roof and the interior of the building.
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USAID renovates old cinema to create training and meeting space for women - On 26 October 2005, USAID broke ground to begin the renovation of the old Zaenab Cinema in Kabul.
The movie theater was first damaged by the Taliban and has deteriorated since then. The Taliban almost extinguished the entertainment industry in Afghanistan. Resurrection of this site, which was primarily used as a women’s theater before the Taliban, is a powerful symbol of change. USAID will spend over $200,000 to provide a new water supply, sanitation and electrical systems, interior renovation and new theater seating, among other upgrades.
The renovation will provide modern facilities and an appropriate, more conducive environment for women’s meetings and training programs.
Once reconstructed, the facility will become a space for women to hold conferences, workshops, training in multiple skills and social events in Kabul. The center will also serve as an administrative building for the Ministry of Women’s Affairs provincial women’s centers which are located in various provinces. Thousands of women are expected to use the facility annually.
The new administrative building will help the Ministry meet its goal of advocating for policies that improve the well-being of women and their families.
SECURITY INCIDENTS
For this reporting period (Oct. 14-Nov. 5), there were sixteen hostile attacks, five of which directly affected USAID operations. Four people were killed, and fourteen were injured.
On October 18, in the Village of Kang-e Khaliin Faryab Province, a two-vehicle UNDP convoy was fired upon by persons on motorcycles while en route to Maymana. The incident resulted in one minor injury to UNDP staff.
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