Hedayat Amin-Arsala

Dr. Hedayat Amin Arsala "was born in 1942. After receiving his high school diploma, he continued his education in the field of Economics and pursued his PhD in the United States.

"In 1969, he started his professional career at the World Bank Youth Professional Program and served at various positions with the World Bank. In 1987, he left the World Bank and joined the Afghan resistance against the Red Army and served as Senior Advisor and member of the Afghan Mujahideen Unity Council. He was also an active member of the resistance against the Red Army until 1989.

"From 1989 to 1992, he served as the Minister of Finance of the Transitional Government of Afghanistan. In 1993, he was appointed as the Foreign Minister of Afghanistan. H.E. Dr. Arsala is one of the pioneers of calling for the Loya Jirga in Afghanistan. In 1998, he was the member of Executive Council of Afghan Loya Jirga representing the former Afghan King His Majesty Zaher Shah, the Father of the Nation. He also had a major role in convening the Bonn Conference in December 2001, which led to the establishment of the Afghan Interim Administration where he served as a Vice Chairman and the Finance Minister. After the Emergency Loya Jirga in 2002, he served as the Vice President of the Transitional Islamic State of Afghanistan, as well as the Chairman of the Independent Civil Services Administrative Reform Commission. He also served as advisor to the Central Statistics Office of Afghanistan, the Afghan Economical Cooperation Committee, and as a member of the National Security Council of Afghanistan. He has represented Afghanistan on many official trips outside Afghanistan."

He is married to Betsy Amin-Arsala.