The statement said the contract will be signed as soon as the Government of Afghanistan will present official guarantees of ensuring security of personnel, machines and mechanisms of Uzbekistan Temir Yollari and objects of railway infrastructure of Hairatan-Mazar-e-Sharif railroad.

It said that representatives of the side meet in Manila, Philippines, in October 2009 and they discussed introduction of amendments and clarification to tender proposals, considered issues of security and ADB standard contracts and agreed final version of the order contract. The sides agreed number of servicemen, machines and mechanisms, simplification of visa, customs and border procedures.

Uzbekistan Temir Yollari and Afghanistan agreed that the construction of Hairatan-Mazar-e-Sharif railroad will be carried out for US$129 million.

As earlier reported, Uzbekistan Temir Yollari won a tender on construction of railway Hairatan-Mazar-e-Sharif with the extension of 75 km and contract cost of US$170 million. The project will be implemented by the second half of 2010.

The project will be financed due to grant of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) for US$165 million and own resources of Afghanistan Government for US$5 million.

Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, and the ADB have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to expand trade and economic opportunities through railway transport in November 2008.

Uzbekistan prepared feasibility study of the project on railway between Hairatan and Heart through Mazar-e-Sharif. It is planned to supply several locomotives, construct cargo terminal in Mazar-e-Sharif and some other infrastructure objects.