Minister of Communications Amirzai Sangin of Afghanistan
Sangin said the telecommunications and IT sector employed some 50,000 people and was crucial to opening opportunities for trade between districts as well as internationally.
Amirzai Sangin is the Minister of Communications in Afghanistan.
In 1982, Sangin joined Swedish Telecom.
Sangin was appointed Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Afghan Telecom in July 2004.
Minister Sangin said that Afghan Ministry of Communication has issued licenses to six international and national Internet Service Providers (ISPs.
Sangin was born in Urgun in Paktika Province in 1949.
Sangin was forced to leave Afghanistan in 1980 and become a refugee in Sweden.
Sangin was appointed as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Afghan Telecom in July 2004, and was later chosen to serve as Minister of Communication and Information Technology.
Sangin said that Afghanistan opted for GSM technology as it was cheap, was used across the world and provided more opportunities for further expansion.
Sangin said there was no such move.
Addressing a joint news conference here, Sangin said 70% of the people would be benefited from the communication services across the country in next three years.
Amirzai Sangin said on Sunday developing internet, mobile and other means of information technology was a top priority in his ministrys plans for the next three years.
Addressing a meeting attended by communication department chiefs from all provinces, Sangin said important documents like identity cards, passports and property ownership papers would be computerised as part of the three-year plan.
Sangin said a centre would be created within six months to prepare a digital database of important documents.
A founding member of Swedish Telecom International (now called Telia International), Minister Sangin was a leader in obtaining international bids, winning 8 GSM licenses in Estonia, Lativia, Russia, Hungary, Italy, Namibia, and India from1990-2000.
Minister Sangin was appointed Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Afghan Telecom in July 2004.
Communications Minister Amirzai Sangin said this week that free operating licences and waived fees for a year would be offered to entrepreneurs as part of a government aim to connect every village, town and district of the country to a telephone network.
Sangin said the country's telecommunications and IT sector employed about 50,000 people and was crucial to opening opportunities for trade between districts as well as other countries.
Sangin says the system was essential to organizing the countrys national elections in 2004.
Sangin says Afghanistan has come a long way in the five years since the end of Taleban rule.
Sangin says Afghanistan is recovering from 25 years of war and oppressive regimes.