The two EU countries signed an agreement on the 23.3 million-euro ($33 million) plan in Berlin on Wednesday. The aim is to provide projects in the provinces Uruzgan and Kandahar with the necessary funds to develop the civilian airport in Tarin Kowt, the Uruzgan provincial capital, as well as the building of vocational schools.

The majority of the funds – approximately 17.6 million euros – will come from the Netherlands' national budget. The airport, which will provide a daily connection between Tarin Kowt and the capital Kabul will cost an estimated 15 million euros.

The airport development should be completed by the end of 2010.

The Netherlands currently holds the NATO-led International Security and Assistance Force (ISAF) command in Uruzgan.

nda/dpa/AP

Editor: Susan Houlton