The Ministry of Economy and Commerce of Kyrgyzstan has acquired a trade pavilion at the Termez International Trade Center in the town of Termez, Uzbekistan, near the Afghan border. This purchase agreement was signed on November 11 between the ministry and LLC Termez International Trade Centre, the center’s management company.
This pavilion offers Kyrgyzstan a strategic foothold to expand its presence in the markets of Uzbekistan and Afghanistan, promoting the export of Kyrgyz agricultural and industrial goods while enabling direct interaction with Afghan business partners. The Kyrgyz government has expressed an ongoing interest in strengthening economic relations with Afghanistan. From January to August 2024, trade between the two countries reached $14 million, with Afghan exports to Kyrgyzstan accounting for $6 million of this total, as noted in a recent report.
The Termez International Trade Center serves as a vital hub at the intersection of Central Asian trade routes, facilitating substantial trade flows between Uzbekistan and Afghanistan. Opened on August 29 by Uzbek Prime Minister Abdulla Aripov and the acting Afghan Deputy Prime Minister Abdul Ghani Baradar, the center features retail spaces, hotels, a medical center, and other amenities. It also supports transactions in multiple currencies, including U.S. dollars, euros, rubles, and yuan.
Notably, Afghan citizens are allowed to visit and conduct trade at the Termez center for up to 15 days without requiring an Uzbek visa, enhancing accessibility for Afghan traders.
