Ottawa – During a week-long visit to Canada, H.E. S. Ibrahim Adel, Afghanistan’s Minister of Mines, attended the annual Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada (PDAC) in Toronto and then paid a working visit to Ottawa, where he met Canadian officials and discussed the growth potential of the mining sector in Afghanistan.
According to Minister Adel, the international mining industry displayed a keen interest in Afghan mining prospects at the PDAC event in Toronto. This year’s PDAC International Convention, Trade Show and Investors Exchange was the most important event in the world of mining exploration, bringing together over 18,000 attendees from all over the globe.
Min. Adel met with the Hon. Gary Lunn, Minister of Natural Resources of Canada on the sideline of PDAC. He also presented the Afghan case at a roundtable to the Canadian mining industry, and at another event sponsored by the Canada-Afghanistan Business Council.
In Ottawa, while accompanied by Afghan Ambassador Omar Samad, Minister Adel held talks with the Honourable David Emerson Canadian Minister of International Trade and head of the cabinet committee on Afghanistan, during which both sides reviewed bilateral issues. Min. Adel also expressed Afghanistan’s appreciation for Canada’s continued multi-faceted assistances towards security and development in Afghanistan.
During a working luncheon hosted by Assistant Deputy Minister Ken Sunquist (WMM), the Afghan delegation, including Dr. Atiq Sediqi, Advisor to the Minister, met with representatives of various Canadian agencies.
Minister Adel provided a positive outlook for mining opportunities as part of an emerging economic sector of the Afghan economy. He expressed his hope that not only would Canada provide technical assistances, but also invited the Canadian mining industry to take part in Afghanistan’s revival and investment potential.
Embassy of I.R. of Afghanistan
March 10, 2008 |
