20 ministry officials offered master’s degrees

KABUL): Twenty Ministry of Finance employees would do their masters in economics and business management under a programme offered by the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) in Geneva, an official said on Thursday.

An agreement to the effect was inked between Finance Minister Hazrat Omar Zakhilwal and UNITAR officials on Wednesday in Geneva, the ministry spokesman, Wahidullah Tawhidi, told Pajhwok Afghan News.

The 20 employees would complete their courses in UNITAR-linked universities in Switzerland and Japan over the next nine months, including a three-month online course. The ministry would pay the expenses, Tahwidi said.

On Wednesday, 400 finance ministry officials, who had bachelor’s degrees, appeared in a test for the purpose, the official said, adding those securing high marks were being considered for the programme that he said was to begin in few days.

The Ministry of Finance said UNITAR had a special reputation and experience in trainings for capacity development in the fields of environment, peace, security, diplomacy, and governance.

“This investment on our employees would help bring transparency into our financial affairs.”

Nearly 800 employees of the ministry have completed long-term training programmes in cooperation with UNITAR over the past eight years in Malaysia, Japan, India and Afghanistan, according to Tawhidi.

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