Paris, France, 9 December 2008 - His Highness the Aga Khan and Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner signed a partnership agreement for development at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The agreement builds on a number of successful AKDN projects to which the French government, French institutions and French companies have contributed. Collaborations have included Roshan telecommunications and the French Medical Institute in Afghanistan and the Bujagali hydroelectric plant in Uganda. The official press release mentions a common vision of development: the necessity of long-term engagement, the participation in development of local communities and the importance of integrating economic development with social development.