Uzbekistan has reached an agreement with Afghanistan's interim government to reduce fees for Uzbek freight carriers, as announced by the Ministry of Transport.
Following discussions with Afghan officials, the fee for Uzbek drivers operating in the country has been reduced to Afghanis (AFN) 6,500 ($99).
Specifically, the fee for crossing the Amu Darya Bridge, which was previously set at AFN 12,000 ($182), has been reduced to AFN 7,000 ($106) since September 28 of 2024.
Additionally, the entry fee for trucks entering Afghanistan has decreased from AFN 5,000 ($76) to AFN 3,500 ($53).
The Ministry of Transport is actively working to create favorable conditions for cargo transportation along the Trans-Afghan Multimodal Transport Corridor while optimizing the fees collected.
Uzbekistan has been focusing on enhancing its southern export routes for several years. The first transit cargo from Uzbekistan reached Pakistan in November 2021, and since March 2022, Pakistan has begun supplying meat to Uzbek consumers. To support this trade route, an International Trade Center was established in Termez, with its first stage operational by the end of 2023 and officially opened in August 2024.
Further strengthening economic ties, the governments of Uzbekistan and Afghanistan recently signed a Preferential Trade Agreement that eliminates customs duties on 14 types of goods. Uzbekistan has also pledged to simplify the issuance of phytosanitary permits for Afghan agricultural products.
The Airitom-Khairatan border crossing has been operational around the clock since August 1, offering visitors to the International Trade Center a 15-day visa-free regime along with tax benefits.
Moreover, Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, and Pakistan are collaborating on the Trans-Afghan Railway project, which aims to reduce shipping time and costs. The railway is anticipated to be operational by 2027, marking a transformative step for regional trade.
Uzbekistan and Afghanistan have seen an increase in trade turnover over recent years, with the figure reaching $762.1mn from January to September 2024. This is up from $615.3mn in the same period of 2023 and $523.7mn in 2022.
The bilateral trade between Uzbekistan and Afghanistan reached about $866.9mn in 2023. In just the first half of 2024, the trade volume was $461.4mn, reflecting a 24.5% y/y increase.
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