Uzbekistan and JICA Discuss Joint Projects for Afghanistan

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — Special Representative of the President of Uzbekistan for Afghanistan Ismatulla Irgashev held talks with Tetsuya Yamada, Director General of the South Asia Department of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), focusing on potential joint projects aimed at supporting Afghanistan’s socio-economic development.

During the discussions, both sides emphasized initiatives targeting humanitarian support for the Afghan population and the development of key sectors of the country’s economy and social infrastructure.

The Japanese side praised Uzbekistan’s pragmatic approach to engagement with Afghanistan, noting its emphasis on practical and stability-oriented cooperation. JICA also highlighted the importance of the infrastructure established in Termez, which can serve as a platform for implementing international humanitarian and social programs.

The parties discussed using Termez as a logistical and coordination hub for initiatives in education, healthcare, agriculture, private sector development, and efforts to combat illicit drug trafficking.

Japan expressed particular interest in expanding cooperation through this hub to improve the effectiveness of development assistance programs directed toward Afghanistan.

Both sides stressed that such initiatives are intended to contribute to improving socio-economic conditions and raising the overall standard of living for the Afghan population, while also supporting broader regional stability efforts in Central and South Asia.