President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani on Thursday inaugurated the Lapis Lazuli corridor during his visit to western Herat province of Afghanistan.
In his speech during the inaugural ceremony of Lapis Lazuli corridor in Herat, President Ghani said Afghanistan was facing a situation in which it was isolated 17 years ago.
President Ghani further added that the goal of Afghanistan,its people, and different sects of the country is connectivity, not isolation, emphasizing that in today’s situation Afghanistan is in a position which acts as a point of connectivity.
He said the Lapis Lazuli corridor’s history dates back to four years ago when Afghanistan’s Lapis stones were transported to Egypt and India via this corridor.
According to President Ghani, Afghanistan now has vast options in terms of transit and is not dependent to a single transit route.
He also hailed the presidents of Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan,Georgia, and Turkey for their efforts in regional connectivity, particularly in turning in Lapis Lazuli project into reality.
President Ghani said the realization of Lapis Lazuli corridor is a result of trust and confidence of the northern neighbors of Afghanistan, emphasizing that the Afghan products including grapes, marbles,and Saffron as well pomegranates of Kandahar, almonds of Samagan, and all agricultural products of the country will soon be transported to Europe via this corridor.
Source The Khaama Press
