Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07TOKYO441
2007-01-31 23:47:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Tokyo
Cable title:
JAPANESE UPDATE OF AFGHAN RING ROAD PROJECT
how-toVZCZCXYZ0000 PP RUEHWEB DE RUEHKO #0441 0312347 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 312347Z JAN 07 FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO TO RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL PRIORITY 0422 RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0233 INFO RHAKDOC/18WG CP KADENA AB JA RUEHUNV/USMISSION UNVIE VIENNA 0426 RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO BRUSSELS RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 3154 RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC RHMFIUU/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL
UNCLAS TOKYO 000441
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/A, S/CT
STATE PASS TO USAID FOR AID AA/ANE MARK WARD
NSC FOR AHARRIMAN
CENTCOM FOR CG CFC-A, CF CJTF-76, POLAD
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON AID ECON PGOV PREL ELTN SNAR ASEC AFIN AF JA
SUBJECT: JAPANESE UPDATE OF AFGHAN RING ROAD PROJECT
REF: 06 KABUL 04432
UNCLAS TOKYO 000441
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/A, S/CT
STATE PASS TO USAID FOR AID AA/ANE MARK WARD
NSC FOR AHARRIMAN
CENTCOM FOR CG CFC-A, CF CJTF-76, POLAD
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON AID ECON PGOV PREL ELTN SNAR ASEC AFIN AF JA
SUBJECT: JAPANESE UPDATE OF AFGHAN RING ROAD PROJECT
REF: 06 KABUL 04432
1. Summary. Japan has signed a contract with a construction
company, SAITA of Afghanistan, to complete its 114 km segment
of the Afghan Ring Road (Kandahar to Herat),and expects work
to be completed by December 2008, if not sooner. MOFA
International Cooperation Bureau Grant Aid/Technical
Cooperation Division Director Wada said that on January 20,
2007 SAITA began construction on the first ten kilometers.
End summary.
2. In Fall 2006, the initial contract for this section of
the Ring Road was canceled due to security concerns and
Taisei's employees departed Afghanistan. A new tender was
issued to include third parties (other companies in addition
to Japanese and Afghan companies.) Negotiations with an
Indian company were undertaken, however no agreement was
reached. As a result, Japanese procurement agent, the Japan
International Cooperation System (JICS) issued yet another
tender requesting bids by early December. MOFA Grant
Aid/Technical Cooperation Division Director Mitsuhiro Wada
said of four companies submitting bids, the best bid was from
SAITA of Afghanistan. On December 26, 2006, the Government
of Afghanistan, through JICS, signed an agreement with SAITA
of Afghanistan (a Japanese invested firm) to construct the
Road. In addition, a Japanese engineering services firm,
Pacific Consultants International (PCI),was contracted to
provide the technical oversight.
3. Director Wada reported that SAITA began construction on
January 20, 2007, with PCI providing technical oversight.
4. Director Wada said that the contracting system is
somewhat complicated. MOFA initially only had sufficient
funds to cover the first 50 kilometers, and asked the Afghan
Government through JICS to issue the contract accordingly.
MOFA is now waiting a formal request from the Afghan
Government for grant funds to complete the remaining 64
kilometers. Once the request is received, MOFA will
calculate the necessary funding, and obtain budget approvals
from the Ministry of Finance and the Cabinet, so that the
funding can be issued during 2006 fiscal year (FY 2006 ends
March 31, 2007.). Director Wada assured AID Counselor that
funding is not a problem, but these administrative procedures
must be followed.
5. Director Wada also told AID Counselor that the Afghan
Government and JICS would approve and sign a contract with
SAITA of Afghanistan for the final 64 kilometers, perhaps
following the same procedure of constructing 10 kilometers at
a time. Director Wada assured that the 114 kilometers from
Kandahar to Herat would be completed by December 2008 if not
earlier.
6. MOFA recently appointed senior official, Yoshiki Mine, as
the Ambassador in Charge of Afghanistan Assistance
Coordination and NGOs. Director Wada reported that the Ring
Road is one of Mine's highest priorities.
SCHIEFFER
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/A, S/CT
STATE PASS TO USAID FOR AID AA/ANE MARK WARD
NSC FOR AHARRIMAN
CENTCOM FOR CG CFC-A, CF CJTF-76, POLAD
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON AID ECON PGOV PREL ELTN SNAR ASEC AFIN AF JA
SUBJECT: JAPANESE UPDATE OF AFGHAN RING ROAD PROJECT
REF: 06 KABUL 04432
1. Summary. Japan has signed a contract with a construction
company, SAITA of Afghanistan, to complete its 114 km segment
of the Afghan Ring Road (Kandahar to Herat),and expects work
to be completed by December 2008, if not sooner. MOFA
International Cooperation Bureau Grant Aid/Technical
Cooperation Division Director Wada said that on January 20,
2007 SAITA began construction on the first ten kilometers.
End summary.
2. In Fall 2006, the initial contract for this section of
the Ring Road was canceled due to security concerns and
Taisei's employees departed Afghanistan. A new tender was
issued to include third parties (other companies in addition
to Japanese and Afghan companies.) Negotiations with an
Indian company were undertaken, however no agreement was
reached. As a result, Japanese procurement agent, the Japan
International Cooperation System (JICS) issued yet another
tender requesting bids by early December. MOFA Grant
Aid/Technical Cooperation Division Director Mitsuhiro Wada
said of four companies submitting bids, the best bid was from
SAITA of Afghanistan. On December 26, 2006, the Government
of Afghanistan, through JICS, signed an agreement with SAITA
of Afghanistan (a Japanese invested firm) to construct the
Road. In addition, a Japanese engineering services firm,
Pacific Consultants International (PCI),was contracted to
provide the technical oversight.
3. Director Wada reported that SAITA began construction on
January 20, 2007, with PCI providing technical oversight.
4. Director Wada said that the contracting system is
somewhat complicated. MOFA initially only had sufficient
funds to cover the first 50 kilometers, and asked the Afghan
Government through JICS to issue the contract accordingly.
MOFA is now waiting a formal request from the Afghan
Government for grant funds to complete the remaining 64
kilometers. Once the request is received, MOFA will
calculate the necessary funding, and obtain budget approvals
from the Ministry of Finance and the Cabinet, so that the
funding can be issued during 2006 fiscal year (FY 2006 ends
March 31, 2007.). Director Wada assured AID Counselor that
funding is not a problem, but these administrative procedures
must be followed.
5. Director Wada also told AID Counselor that the Afghan
Government and JICS would approve and sign a contract with
SAITA of Afghanistan for the final 64 kilometers, perhaps
following the same procedure of constructing 10 kilometers at
a time. Director Wada assured that the 114 kilometers from
Kandahar to Herat would be completed by December 2008 if not
earlier.
6. MOFA recently appointed senior official, Yoshiki Mine, as
the Ambassador in Charge of Afghanistan Assistance
Coordination and NGOs. Director Wada reported that the Ring
Road is one of Mine's highest priorities.
SCHIEFFER