Uzbekistan eyes to increase the trade turnover with Afghanistan to 3 billion USD

On August 17, the government delegation led by the Prime Minister of Uzbekistan Abdulla Aripov visited Afghanistan. According to the press secretary of the Prime Minister, as part of the visit, bilateral meetings were held in Kabul with Acting Prime Minister of Afghanistan Abdul Ghani Barodar, Deputy Prime Minister for Administrative Affairs Abdus-Salam Hanafi, Deputy Prime Minister for Political Affairs Abdul Kabir and Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi. 

"It was noted that relations between our countries are based on the principles of friendship, cooperation and good neighborliness, and Uzbekistan views Afghanistan as an integral part of Central Asia. President Shavkat Mirziyoyev stated that no positive result can be achieved without international dialogue with the current government in Afghanistan. In the special resolution of the United Nations General Assembly adopted in 2022 on the initiative of the head of our state, it was recognized that Afghanistan has a special place in establishing relations between Central Asia and South Asia," the official release said.

In this sense, Uzbekistan has established a constructive and mutually acceptable dialogue with the interim government of Afghanistan.

At the meeting, they exchanged views on the development of trade relations with Afghanistan, bringing effective cooperation in the field of energy to a new level, implementing projects for the joint development of copper, iron, oil and gas fields, as well as deepening transport-logistics, agriculture and water management, education, and interregional relations.

It was also noted that there are all possibilities to increase the mutual trade turnover to 1 billion USD this year, and to 3 billion USD in the near future. It was reported that agreements on protection of bilateral investments and preferential trade will give a great impetus to the further development of trade-economic cooperation.

Reportedly, "a number of documents were signed at the end of the meeting", but it is not clear what kind of documents they are.