Cunningham stresses women’s role in economic growth

KABUL’s economic development would be open this spring. 

The centre, the first facility of its kind in Afghanistan, is aimed at coordinating international and Afghan public and private sector efforts to advance the role of women in economic stabilisation of Afghanistan. 

Cunningham told a convocation ceremony at the American University of Afghanistan (AUAF) that the  international center would include classrooms, meeting and seminar space, computer labs, state-of-the art video conference facilities.

It would have an English language training center, a research center, a radio station and a space for a women’s business incubator, he said, adding the center would support women’s training and development in two critical areas —information and communication technology; and indigenous industries in Afghanistan and the supply chain development and logistics needed to bring these industries to scale and to market.

Congratulating students of the university, Cunningham stressed investing in girls and women spurred economic growth and helped create stable and prosperous societies. 

This year women make up over half of the entering class at AUAF for the first time. Speaking to students, the US ambassador noted some of them might open their own businesses, and education from the AUAF would make them among the best-prepared to contribute to Afghanistan’s economic growth.

He said the construction of the center underscored continued United States’ commitment to partnering with Afghan institutions and civil society to promote education and support the development of Afghan women leaders. 

pr/ma

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