World Bank Predicts Nearly 5 Percent Afghan Growth

Afghanistan's economy is expected to grow at nearly 5 percent a year between now and 2025, the World Bank has said.

With good management, the figure could rise to 6.7 percent, it added.

Ahead of a major international conference in Tokyo on Afghanistan's economic future, World Bank country director Bob Saum said the coming decade offered "high hopes, expectations, and great opportunities" for Afghanistan.

The country is believed to have mineral reserves worth as much as $3 trillion, which could theoretically generate billions of dollars in tax revenue.

Afghanistan goes to next week's Tokyo conference looking to secure $4 billion a year in pledges from international donors to make up a financial shortfall from 2014 when the country begins to stand on its own feet.

With reporting by AFP