The Second Regional Economic Cooperation Conference (RECC) on Afghanistan was held in New Delhi from 18 to 19 November 2006.
The Conference was jointly inaugurated by H.E. Hamid Karzai President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and H.E. Dr Manmohan Singh, Prime Minister of India. Both leaders stressed on the importance of the development of Afghanistan and the benefits of it to the surrounding regions.
The Conference built on the success of Kabul RECC undertaken by the key stakeholders, including regional countries, G-8 partners, UN, regional economic organizations and international financial institutions, as well as private sector. In particular, it followed up on the themes identified at Kabul - (i) trade facilitation and transport (ii) investment trade and business potential (iii) electricity trade and energy development. Under electricity trade and energy development, there were 2 new sub-themes of TAPI; and renewable sources of energy. It also took up a new theme (iv) of agriculture and agro-development, as mandated in the Kabul Declaration. Capacity building was a crosscutting issue in all the themes.
Concurrent to the RECC, back-to-back business meetings were also held, which were organized by the three apex Indian business chambers, namely Federation of Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM), in association with Afghanistan Investment Support Agency (AISA). A number of practical commercial projects of regional relevance, which could act as a vehicle for private sector investment, were presented. The business meetings encouraged the possibility of commercial advantage as well as strengthening of contacts with the private sector organizations of the region.
During the visit, the President held meetings with H.E. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, President of the Republic of India , H.E. Manmohan Singh, Prime Minister of the Republic of India , and H.E. Sonia Gandhi, Leader of India's Congress Party. They discussed bilateral relations, the security situation in the region, and other issues of mutual interest.
The President was accompanied on this trip by H.E. Dr. Rangin Dadfar Spanta, Minister of Foreign Affairs, H.E. Dr. Zalmai Rasoul, National Security Advisor, H.E. Muhammad Ishaq Naderi, Senior Economic Advisor of the President, H.E. Dr. Anwar-ul-Haq Ahady, Minister of Finance, H.E. Muhammad Ismail, Minister of Water and Energy, H.E. Obaidullah Ramin, Minister of Agriculture, H.E. Mohammad Ibrahim Adil, Minister of Mines, and H.E. Jawed Ludin, Chief of Staff of the President.
For more information on the RECC, please visit India 's Ministry of External Affairs website on: http://meaindia.nic.in/srec/mystart.htm
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A Conference on Regional Economic Co-operation took place in Kabul on 4-5 December 2005 which was co-chaired by Afghanistan and the United Kingdom. Representatives from neighboring countries, the G8, the UN and international financial institutions attended this conference. The conference achieved a greater understanding of regional priorities for co-operation and published a "Kabul Declaration" setting out future work.