"Addressing needs in as vital an area of infrastructure as communications is one of the ways in which Roshan is seeking to help jump-start economic development in Afghanistan," said Karim Khoja, CEO. "By working with experienced partners to bring telephony, fax, data transfer, conference calling, voice mail and similar services to an economy in the early thrust of reconstruction, we hope to be able to "leap-frog" older technologies and quickly contribute towards increased efficiencies across a broad spectrum of activity nationally and region-wide."

Roshan's involvement in the telecommunications sector complements and strengthens various development initiatives that have been launched by the Aga Khan Development Network in Afghanistan since the beginning 2003. These range from expansion of rural development and the rehabilitation of infrastructure to microfinance, upgrading educational and healthcare capacity and the revitalisation of cultural spaces of historic importance with a view to improving urban development.

Roshan also celebrated the accomplishments of seven local athletes as the offical sponsor of Afghanistan's Olympic and ParaOlympic teams. Roshan is proud to be the sponsor of the Olympic athletes coming from all over Afghanistan and who participated in various events at the 2004 Summer Olympic Games in Athens, Greece. As part of the sponsorship, Roshan will also be funding a nation-wide grassroots volleyball tournament, a joint initiative between Roshan and the Afghanistan Olympic Committee to provide opportunities for young, budding athletes to compete at an national level.