President Mirziyoyev and Afghan Deputy PM discuss deepening economic ties

President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev met with Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, Acting Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs of Afghanistan, on the sidelines of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) Summit held in the city of Khankandi.

During the meeting, the two sides discussed pressing issues related to the further expansion of mutually beneficial cooperation in the fields of trade and economy, transport and logistics, and energy.

It was noted with satisfaction that both the volume of bilateral trade and the number of joint ventures are steadily increasing.

Practical ties have intensified. In May of this year, Uzbekistan opened trade houses in Kabul and Mazar-i-Sharif, and in June, the two countries signed a Preferential Trade Agreement.

President Mirziyoyev emphasized the importance of further developing cross-border trade and related infrastructure, and promoting cooperation projects in sectors such as mining, textiles, pharmaceuticals, construction materials, and agricultural processing, among others.

He also highlighted the need to accelerate the implementation of the strategically important regional initiative – the construction of the Trans-Afghan Railway.