HERAT (IRNA) – Vice-President for Executive Affairs Ali Saeedlou said here Saturday that Afghanistan's development and stability was important for Iran and called for more investment by Iranian firms in the neighboring country.

Saeedlou, who arrived in the western Afghan city of Herat Saturday heading a delegation, made the call during the inaugural ceremony of two development projects in Afghanistan.

Pointing to participation of Iranian firms in development projects in Afghanistan, he said Iranian companies can invest in various sectors such as housing, road construction, telecommunication as well as production and transfer of electricity.

Saeedlou called on Afghan experts living abroad to return to Afghanistan to help reconstruct their home country.

He said Afghan refugees, during their stay in Iran, have received necessary training in scientific, technical and working fields.

"Currently, our Muslim neighbor needs the experiences of this workforce and grounds are prepared here to make use of these experts in different areas," he added.

A 191-km railway between the Iranian city of Khaf and Afghan city of Herat is currently under construction. 77km of the route from Khaf to Iran's border with Afghanistan, estimated to cost $78 million, is to be financed by Iran. The rest, 114-km from the joint border to Herat, will be constructed in two phases. The first phase, a 61-km route, is to be built with an estimated investment of $75 million provided by Iran. The second phase, a 53-km route, will be implemented after necessary financing.

The project is to be completed within three years.

On the first day of his two-day visit to Afghanistan, Saeedlou held talks with Afghan First Vice-President Ahmad Ziya Massoud on activities of border markets, Iran's contribution in Afghanistan's development and handing over two 50MW power generators to Kabul.

Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister for Asia and the Pacific Mehdi Safari and Deputy Minister of Roads and Transportation Hamid Behbahani, Iran's Ambassador to Kabul Mohammad-Reza Bahrami, Governor General of Iran's northeastern province of Khorassan Razavi Mohammadizadeh as well as Herat Governor General Ali Anvari were present in the inaugural ceremony.