KABUL - The Tokyo Conference next week is supposed to give the people of Afghanistan a strong message that the international community will continue its support to Afghanistan for another decade beyond 2014 in its endeavour to become economically sustainable and self-reliant.

Addressing a Press conference in Kabul yesterday, Afghanistan’s Finance Minister, Dr Umar Zakhilwal said the Afghan Government has prepared “the strongest document” for the Tokyo Conference to be held on 8 July with the theme “Towards Self-Reliance” and it lays out the strategic vision of the Afghan Government to make the country fully self-reliant and have a completely different picture in 2025.

“Our efforts for self-reliance have a cost, which we cannot afford; therefore we will ask the international community in Tokyo to commit funding,” said Zakhilwal.

The Finance Minister said that the Joint Coordination and Monitoring Board (JCMB), co-chaired by the Government of Afghanistan and the United Nations – has already approved the document of the Afghan Government and that the international community has full consensus with the Government on its strategic vision. He also claimed that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has also hailed the document, which is significantly important for its endorsement at Tokyo Conference.

“We are currently discussing with the international community a framework for mutual accountability under which the Afghan Government will have to make certain reforms in its institutions while there will be changes in the mechanism of spending development funds to ensure quality,” said Umar Zakhilwal.

The representative of World Bank, Bop Sam told the press that Afghanistan’s growth is projected at an average rate of 4.9 per cent during the decade after 2014 and this rate has the potential to increase by 6.7 per cent. However, he said, it depends on creating a conducive environment on the ground including security and good progress in the two key drivers of growth: agriculture and the resource sector.

He said that growth needs to be inclusive, sustainable and leveraged for wider job creation and economic impact.

“The World Bank estimates an annual average financing gap that ranges between US$ 3.3 billion and US$ 3.9 billion during the period from 2014 to 2017,” Bop Sam said adding, “Some tough choices may be needed.”

He said continued strong commitment and engagement by the international community will ensure that long-term investments can continue and keep Afghanistan’s development on track.

The Japanese Ambassador, Recheero Takashi told journalists that the Tokyo Conference will be able to create a mechanism, with which commitment on the sides of Afghan Government and the international community will be constantly reviewed in the future.

He said the heads of state, ministers and dignitaries from 54 countries and 26 international organizations, including UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, President of Afghanistan Hamid Karzai, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will attend the Tokyo Conference.

"A day before the Tokyo conference, a civil society conference will be held and the result of the civil society conference will be a key input for the Tokyo conference while the civil society representatives will also participate in the main Tokyo Conference.”