The Deputy Prime Minister of Uzbekistan, Jamshid Khojaev, held a meeting in Kabul with the Governor of Herat Province, Nur Muhammad Islamjar, as well as representatives of the Afghan Chambers of Commerce and Industry.
The Deputy Prime Minister of Uzbekistan, Jamshid Khojaev, held a meeting in Kabul with the Governor of Herat Province, Nur Muhammad Islamjar, as well as representatives of the Afghan Chambers of Commerce and Industry.
Participants discussed opportunities to expand bilateral trade and economic interaction between the two countries. Present were Faiz Ahmad Havafi, Deputy Head of the Afghan Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Herat, Mohammad Yunus Kazizada, Chairman of the Herat Chamber of Commerce and Industry, along with ministers of transport and mining and oil of Uzbekistan, alongside private sector representatives from Afghanistan.
A key topic of discussion was increasing the volume of bilateral trade to five billion US dollars. Furthermore, participants considered the possibility of providing preferential tariffs on fourteen Afghan export goods and special discounts on railway transportation of products from Uzbekistan to Afghanistan.
Mohammad Yunus Kazizada emphasized the significant potential of Herat for implementing joint investment projects and stated that the Chamber of Commerce and Industry is ready to facilitate cooperation between investors from both countries. The meeting participants particularly noted the importance of regularly holding such negotiations to maintain continuous economic dialogue and further develop trade and investment partnership between Uzbekistan and Afghanistan.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan, Bakhtiyor Saidov, met on July 7 with the founding documents of Johanna Maria Agren, the recently appointed Chargé d'Affaires of Finland in Uzbekistan.
The parties noted that relations between Uzbekistan and Finland have become significantly more active in recent years. The importance of further increasing trade, economic, and investment interaction was emphasized.
Furthermore, the meeting participants focused on the need to establish direct contacts between the business communities of both countries. Bakhtiyor Saidov wished Agren success in her diplomatic activities and assured her of Uzbekistan's full support for her efforts to strengthen Uzbek-Finnish relations.
A meeting took place in Kabul between the Prime Minister of Afghanistan, Mullah Mohammad Hassan Akhund, and the Deputy Prime Minister of Uzbekistan, Jamshid Khodjayev, who headed the Uzbek delegation. The governor of the Fergana region, Khayrullo Bozorov, also participated in the negotiations.
The parties discussed the further development of trade and economic interaction, as well as the implementation of previously reached agreements in the field of trade and investment. Jamshid Khodjayev emphasized that the goal of the large Uzbek delegation, which included representatives of state bodies, legislators, entrepreneurs, and investors, is to strengthen political and economic ties between the two countries.
According to him, Afghanistan holds a significant place in Uzbekistan's foreign policy. The delegation's visit was organized at the instruction of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev with the aim of beginning the practical implementation of agreements in the sectors of trade and investment and assessing the results of their execution.
Khodjayev reported that last year the volume of Afghanistan's exports to Uzbekistan reached 150 million US dollars. Since the beginning of the current year, this amount has been 111 million US dollars, and further growth is expected by the end of the year. Furthermore, the deputy prime minister noted that Uzbekistan issued 5000 visas to Afghan citizens, which he links to the development of friendly and economic relations.
Mullah Mohammad Hassan Akhund welcomed the Uzbek delegation, calling its visit an important step for further strengthening bilateral relations. He stated that the arrival of such a representative delegation and the development of economic cooperation demonstrate Uzbekistan's confidence in Afghanistan's future. The Prime Minister of Afghanistan also expressed interest in deepening ties with Uzbekistan and confirmed his readiness to fulfill the reached agreements.
Uzbekistan and Turkey have reached an agreement to expand the list of goods that can benefit from a preferential trade regime. This decision was made following a meeting of the Working Group of Uzbekistan and Turkey on the preferential trade agreement.
During official meetings in Uzbekistan, a Turkish delegation led by Deputy Minister of Trade Mustafa Tuzcu visited the country. The co-chairs of the meeting were Akram Aliyev, Deputy Minister of Investment, Industry and Trade of Uzbekistan, and Mustafa Tuzcu.
During discussions, both sides focused on mutually expanding the range of products covered by the conditions of preferential trade. At the conclusion of the third round of negotiations, participants reached a common understanding on the main issues.
The meeting concluded with the signing of a protocol confirming the inclusion of additional categories of goods in the list eligible for the preferential regime, taking into account the interests of both countries.
Participants emphasized that the agreements reached should contribute to further stimulating bilateral trade, increasing export and import volumes, and supporting the goal of the two states to increase trade turnover to 5 billion US dollars.
