Uzbekistan and Afghanistan plan to sign a preferential trade agreement

On May 25, the representatives of the government and business circles of Afghanistan visited Termez, where the Deputy Prime Minister – Minister of Investments and Foreign Trade of Uzbekistan Sardor Umurzakov held talks with the head of the presidential administration of Afghanistan Mohammad Shakir Kargar.

According to the MIFT press service, the parties discussed topical issues of cooperation in political, trade-economic, investment and transport-communications spheres.

The sides exchanged views on prospects for deepening trade and economic cooperation, noting that over the past four years, the volume of mutual trade has grown one and a half times, amounting to about $800 million in 2020. The parties confirmed their readiness to implement joint measures to ensure the further growth of Uzbek-Afghan trade turnover to $2 billion in the near future.

“Both sides agreed that to intensify trade cooperation, the relevant ministries and departments of the two countries should accelerate the coordination of the draft agreement on preferential trade in order to sign it by the end of this year,” the statement said.

In addition, the parties also agreed to develop joint measures to attract entrepreneurs of the two countries to establish cooperation using the resources and capabilities of the Termez International Trade Center.

“Prospects of cooperation in the healthcare were also considered during the meeting: the countries show interest in creating modern medical centers with high-tech equipment in the border regions. It will help establish a system for providing a wide range of medical services to the population of both Uzbekistan and Afghanistan,” the press service added.