An Integrated Approach to Development in Afghanistan

On Monday, April 25, 2011, Mirza Jihani, CEO of Aga Khan Foundation U.S.A., and Shainoor Khoja, Director of Corporate Affairs at Roshan, an Afghanistan telecommunications provider, gave a presentation at the Center for Strategic International Studies (CSIS) on "An integrated approach to development in Afghanistan.

Roshan (Telecom Development Company Afghanistan Ltd) is Afghanistan's leading telecommunications provider, with coverage in over 230 districts and approximately 4.8 million active subscribers. Roshan directly employs more than 1,200 people and provides indirect employment to more than 30,000 people. Since its inception seven years ago, Roshan has invested over $450 million in Afghanistan and is the country's single largest investor and tax payer. Roshan is deeply committed to Afghanistan's reconstruction and socio-economic development. The Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development (AKFED), part of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN), is a major shareholder of Roshan and promotes private initiatives in building economically sound enterprises in the developing world. Also owned in part by Monaco Telecom International (MTI) and TeliaSonera, Roshan brings international expertise to Afghanistan and is committed to the highest standards of network quality and coverage for the people of Afghanistan.