Thursday, 21st February 2008 (1133 views)

Afghanistan's gold reserves could help lift the prospects of the impoverished nation, a new report asserts.

The country - which has been affected by decades of regional instability - could find new hope through mineral reserves thought to be some of central Asia's most lucrative, reports AFP.

Mining minister Mohammad Ibrahim Adel told the news agency that significant deposits of gold, as well as copper, oil, gas and iron, are the subject of a new project designed to release some of the nation's hidden wealth.

"There has not been such a big project in the history of Afghanistan," he said of a current mining operation.

He added that in five years time Afghanistan would not need financial aid from the rest of the world and in ten years it would be the richest nation in the region.

Afghan treasures known as the Bactrian Gold were the subject of a 2006 exhibition at the Musee Guimet in Paris.

 

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