Afghanistan’s Deputy Foreign Minister for Economic Affairs will visit Canada this week to hold bilateral talks with high-level officials at the Departments of Foreign Affairs, National Defence and CIDA.

H.E. Mahmoud Saikal will also be the keynote speaker at a conference organized by the Aga Khan Foundation Canada on December 7 in Ottawa entitled “Reconstruction, Development and State building in Afghanistan: Laying Foundations for a Sustainable Peace”.

Dep. Minister Saikal will discuss the upcoming international conference scheduled at the end of January 2006 in London on the proposed post-Bonn accords compact between Afghanistan and the international community to sustain the reform and rebuilding efforts until 2010.

As an official in charge of donor relations, Mr. Saikal will provide information about the country’s development strategy, reconstruction priorities and the continued role of donors, including Canada.