Chinese Government provides RMB 500 million grant for 10,000 Housing Units Project (Linked to Record ID#54451)

Project narrative

On November 3, 2015, Chinese Vice President Li Yuanchao and Afghan President Ashraf Ghani signed an economic and technical cooperation agreement (ETCA), which committed an RMB 2 billion grant (see Record ID#54451) for multiple projects including a project to construct 10,000 residential apartments in Kabul. These housing units were to be allocated to civil servants — specifically, the families of deceased Afghan National Army, Afghan National Police, and National Security Forces personnel. On May 16, 2016, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and the Government of Afghanistan’s Chief Executive Officer Abdullah Abdullah signed an exchange of notes on a feasibility study for the 10,000 Housing Units Project. In March 2017, Afghan officials announced that the first phase of the project would include the construction of 1,400 units the Old Darulaman Palace in Kabul. The second phase and third phase of the project were reportedly dependent on the success of the first phase. Then, in May 2017, the Chinese Government and the Government of Afghanistan signed an RMB 500 million grant agreement to build 10,000 residential apartments in Kabul. China Railway 14th Bureau Group Co., Ltd. was initially identified as the contractor responsible for project implementation. Its work was to be overseen by the Government of Afghanistan's Ministry of Urban Development and Housing. According to a December 9, 2018 report issued by Embassy of China in Afghanistan, the project made substantial progress. As of December 26, 2019, the project was still under implementation. Then, on September 22, 2020, China 19th Metallurgical Corporation (MCC 19) and the Government of Afghanistan signed a construction contract to build 1,400 residential units in 56 five-story blocks in the Nila Bagh area of Darul Aman (within Kabul’s 7th District)