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Italian Ministry of Economy Delegation met with H.E. acting Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation of Afghanistan. Dr. Daoud Ali Najafi

The Italian Cooperation has been active in Afghanistan since 2001, aiming at alleviating the humanitarian crisis resulting from the conflict, and at creating the conditions for a sustainable development of Afghanistan. On 20 July 2011, High delegation from the Ministry of Economy of Italy met with H.E acting Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation of Afghanistan. This trip to Afghanistan was aimed to expand bilateral relations and contribution in different aspects, particularly in the Transport Sector. The Government of Italy committed 92 million Euro to reconstruction of Herat Airport, covering all parts of Herat Airport.

Herat Airport was built by the United States in the 20th century and was used by the Soviet Armed Forces during their 1980s war with the Afghan mujahideen forces. It was bombed in late 2001 when the US-led Operation Enduring Freedom began to remove the Taliban government from power. The airport is the Forward Operating Base for ISAF Regional Command West under Italian Command. It has been rebuilt in the last decade and is scheduled to be turned into Herat International Airport in the near future. The runway of the airport has been extended and upgraded.