Germany's Siemens is in running to build modern telephone network in Kabul

Mon Feb 11, 6:14 AM ET

FRANKFURT, Germany - German industrial and electronics conglomerate Siemens AG is in the running for an estimated 40 million euro (dlrs 35 million) contract to install a telephone network in the Afghan capital Kabul, a newspaper reported Monday.

The Handelsblatt newspaper quoted Afghan telecommunications minister Abdul Rahim as saying Siemens was the preferred company for the job. "Siemens can build a digital system here if at the same time they repair the existing analogue system," Rahim was quoted as saying.

The article said the Afghan government had also received an offer from a Chinese firm.

Donor governments recently pledged dlrs 4.5 billion over five years to help rebuild Afghanistan after more than 20 years of war.