Karzai invites Turkish entrepreneurs to invest in energy sector in Afghanistan

Turkish Energy and Natural Resources Minister Taner Yildiz held official talks in Afghanistan with a delegation from the Turkish Petroleum Corporation and General Directorate of Mineral Research and Exploration and a number of businesspeople. As part of his visit, Yildiz met with President of Afghanistan Hamid Karzai. During the mutual contacts, President Karzai has stated that he supports and invites Turkish entrepreneurs to invest in Afghanistan. In a speech regarding the energy investments in Afghanistan, Yildiz said, “A Turkish company has won four tenders regarding gold exploration in an area of 1,000 square kilometers, leaving behind 70 companies. Turkish Petroleum Corporation will invest over $100 million at the first stage. It has a potential of 23 thousand megawatt investment in the power generation sector in Afghanistan which equals a $30 million investment.” Yildiz has also said that the Turkish Petroleum Corporation has made a bid to the tender of four well bores of $60 million. Yildiz concluded that the normalization of Afghanistan was of great importance to Turkey and Afghan people were more precious than billions of dollars, adding that the two countries should explore the resources side by side.