19 January, 2007
New Zealand troops serving in Afghanistan’s Bamyan Province gave a boost to tourism this week, opening two new bridges to improve access before the summer sightseeing season.
Located on the main roads into the province from Kabul and the Yakawalang district, the two bridges are part of a three bridge development project managed by the 108-strong New Zealand Provincial Reconstruction Team (NZ PRT).
Contingent commander Group Captain Kevin Short said the bridges would open up important access routes to allow greater supply of goods and boost tourism.
"Good roads and bridges such as these will assist the Bamyan province to move towards its goal of becoming the tourist capital of Afghanistan."
Bamyan province is home to the Bamyan Buddhas and the ancient city of Gholgola, historical and religious sites which are seen as two of the country’s biggest tourism assets.
Bamyan provincial governor Habibi Sarabi said projects such as these ensured the province continued to move forward and allowed local people to find employment and become more self-sufficient.
The NZ PRT facilitated the construction of the bridges with funding from NZAID and the US-based Commander Emergency Response Program.
Other projects undertaken by the NZ PRT since their arrival in September 2003 have included the construction of Bamyan Boys High School, five police stations, a maternity ward at Bamyan hospital and a number of other bridges.
The NZ PRT has also helped in the construction of new local government infrastructure, wells for local villagers and the purchase of new equipment for Bamyan’s medical services and police.
ENDS
Pictured above right: Group Captain Kevin Short and Bamyan provincial governor Habibi Sarabi at the opening of one of the two bridges this week.
Currently 395 New Zealand Defence Force personnel are deployed on 19 operations, UN missions and defence exercises around the world For further information please contact James Heffield, Defence Public Relations, on 04 529 6033 or 021 569 148.