Uzbekistan, Afghanistan Aim to Boost Trade to US$5 Billion

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — Deputy Prime Minister of Uzbekistan Jamshid Khodjaev held a meeting in Kabul with the Governor of Herat Province, Noor Ahmad Islamjar, and representatives of Afghanistan's chambers of commerce and investment.

The parties discussed expanding bilateral trade and trade and economic cooperation.

The meeting was attended by the Deputy Head of the Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Investment in Herat, Faiz Ahmad Khawafi, the Chairman of the Herat Chamber of Commerce and Investment, Mohammad Yunus Qazizada, the Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Uzbekistan, as well as Uzbekistan's ministers of transport, and mining and petroleum, alongside representatives of the Afghan private sector.

Increasing bilateral trade volume to US$5 billion was a key topic of discussion. Participants also discussed the potential provision of preferential tariffs on 14 Afghan export goods and special discounts for rail freight shipments of products from Uzbekistan to Afghanistan.

Mohammad Yunus Qazizada highlighted Herat's significant potential for implementing joint investment projects and stated that the Chamber of Commerce and Investment is ready to facilitate cooperation between investors from both countries.

Meeting participants emphasized the importance of holding such talks regularly to maintain ongoing economic dialogue and to further expand trade and investment cooperation between Uzbekistan and Afghanistan.