A high-level delegation from Uzbekistan has pledged to open a significant business center in Termez for Afghan businesspeople.
The 45-member Uzbek delegation, led by Uzbekistan's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy Kuchkarov, arrived in Kabul for meetings with senior officials of the Islamic Emirate, Afghanistan's caretaker government.
During the discussions with Afghan officials, various aspects of bilateral cooperation were explored, including trade, transit, economic ties, railway projects, transportation, mining, water management, and agricultural development.
Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs of Afghanistan, Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, highlighted the historical cooperation between Afghanistan and Uzbekistan in areas such as security, politics, and the economy. He noted the importance of high-level delegations visiting each other, signaling the positive development of bilateral relations and the potential for advancements in trade and transit.
Baradar emphasized Afghanistan's commitment to serving as a crucial transit point in the region and discussed investments in road reconstruction to enhance connectivity between South and Central Asia. He also addressed the issue of high transit fees for Afghan cargo passing through Uzbekistan and called for a reduction in these fees.
The Deputy Prime Minister expressed optimism about balanced trade relations between the two countries and anticipated a significant increase in Afghan exports to Uzbekistan. He encouraged Uzbekistan to consider offering special preferential tariffs and fostering friendly trade interactions with Afghanistan.
On the other side, Uzbekistan's Deputy Prime Minister, Khodjaev, conveyed Uzbekistan's readiness to cooperate with Afghanistan in various sectors, including agriculture, transportation, railways, transit, water management, and mining. He revealed a trade road map aimed at boosting Afghanistan's exports to Uzbekistan, with the goal of increasing the trade volume between the two countries to approximately three billion dollars annually.
Furthermore, Uzbekistan has simplified the visa process for Afghan businessmen and drivers. Plans are in place to host an exhibition of Afghan products in Tashkent, and an expansive business center in Termez is set to open. The efforts of Uzbekistan in providing humanitarian assistance to the victims of the Herat earthquake were also acknowledged and appreciated by Afghan officials.
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