KABUL, Afghanistan — Afghanistan and Uzbekistan’s private sectors signed 22 trade agreements worth a combined $200 million during the official visit of Jamshid Khodjayev, Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Uzbekistan, who led a high-level delegation to Afghanistan.
The agreements were signed on Sunday, July 27, during a ceremony attended by senior government officials and business representatives from both countries.
Speaking at the event, Nooruddin Azizi, Afghanistan’s Minister of Industry and Commerce, said both governments are working to increase bilateral trade to $5 billion.
Azizi said Afghanistan offers significant investment opportunities and described the visit of Uzbekistan’s deputy prime minister, who headed a 300-member delegation, as a reflection of the growing strategic and economic ties between the two neighboring countries.
The minister also announced that approximately 10,000 metric tons of Afghan cotton had been exported to Uzbekistan on a trial basis. Following the successful pilot shipment, he said, Uzbekistan has committed to purchasing an additional 100,000 metric tons of Afghan cotton.
Jamshid Khodjayev welcomed the expansion of economic cooperation between the two countries, saying Afghanistan is experiencing steady development through the implementation of major infrastructure projects, while several other strategic projects are also underway.
He added that Uzbekistan has introduced several measures to facilitate trade, including the development of new transport routes, the provision of preferential tariffs, faster cargo clearance and transit, and the establishment of logistics centers to improve cross-border commerce.
During the ceremony, Sayed Karim Hashemi, Chairman of the Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Investment, and the Governor of Uzbekistan’s Fergana Region also delivered remarks highlighting the importance of strengthening bilateral economic and trade relations.
