On December 19, the President of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, met with the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. The primary focus of their discussion was on expanding bilateral cooperation, particularly in the fields of transportation and logistics, as Trend News Agency reports.
“The project is very important, and it is still one of the most important and key plans in connecting Central Asian countries with South Asian countries,” said Zabiullah Mujahid.
Qatar’s support for the project
Qatar has expressed its full support for Uzbekistan’s ambitious Trans-Afghan Railway construction project. This commitment was made clear during the high-level meeting between the two leaders.
Presentation of the project to Qatar
In October 2023, Uzbekistan Railways JSC presented the Trans-Afghan Railway project to Qatar’s Ministry of Transport. The presentation was followed by discussions on how to ensure Qatar’s active participation in the implementation of the project.
Launch of the Trans-Afghan Railway project
The Trans-Afghan railway project was launched in February 2021 by the governments of Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, and Pakistan. The railway, starting from the city of Termez in Uzbekistan and ending in Peshawar, Pakistan, via Mazar-e-Sharif and Kabul, is expected to create a new transportation corridor. With an initial cost of about $5bn, the project aims to have a transit capacity of up to 20 mn tons of cargo per year, connecting Europe, Russia, Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, and Pakistan.
Bilateral talks in Tashkent
According to the press service of the Ministry of Transport of Uzbekistan, Elhom Mokhkamov, the head of the country’s transport agency, and Hamid Isa Abdullah, the deputy minister of transport of Qatar, held talks in Tashkent on October 23. The main focus of the negotiations was on the establishment of international railway lines, especially the implementation of the Trans-Afghan railway construction project.
Importance of the project
"The creation of the railway can reduce the cost of commercial goods and speed up the transfer of commercial goods and also facilitate the development of trade and improve economic progress and create more jobs for the country,” said Abdul Zahur Mudabir, an economist.
The construction of a railway line through Afghanistan, connecting the railway networks of Central and South Asia, has been introduced as one of the most important foreign policy projects of Uzbekistan. The 760 km long Trans-Afghan railway line will include the construction of an overhead power cable, 136 bridges, and other similar structures, as well as the installation of three tunnels. The implementation of this project will significantly reduce the delivery time of goods from South Asia to Central Asia, the Commonwealth of Independent States, and Europe.
“The Trans-Afghan Railway can provide progress to countries, including export and import in countries, it can boost the level of employment,” said Mer Shekab Mer, an economist.
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