The government portal of the Republic of Uzbekistan has reported that on August 17, a delegation led by the Prime Minister of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Abdulla Aripov, visited Afghanistan. President Mirziyoyev has previously stated that no positive result can be achieved without establishing an international dialogue with the current government in Afghanistan. In a special resolution of the United Nations General Assembly adopted in 2022 at Mirziyoyev’s initiative, it was recognized that Afghanistan has a special place in establishing relations between Central Asia and South Asia.
As the report states, Uzbekistan was one of the first to establish a constructive and mutually acceptable dialogue with the interim government of Afghanistan.
During the meetings, the development of trade relations with Afghanistan, the promotion of effective cooperation in the field of energy to a new level, the implementation of joint development projects in copper, iron, oil and gas fields, transport and logistics, agriculture and water management, education, and further development of inter-regional relations were discussed.
It was also noted that there are possibilities to increase mutual trade turnover to $1 billion this year, and to $3 billion shortly after. It was reported that agreements on the protection of bilateral investments and preferential trade would give great impetus to the further development of trade and economic cooperation.
Former Minister of Foreign Affairs and Director of the Central Asia International Institute, Vladimir Norov, wrote on LinkedIn that 35 contracts with a total value of $2.5 billion were signed between the government of Uzbekistan and the Taliban. “They were signed yesterday in the presence of Taliban Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs, Abdul-Ghani Baradar and Uzbek Prime Minister, Abdullah Aripov. Of these, 12 documents are investment documents worth $1.4 billion, and 13 are trade documents worth $1.1 billion.
Uzbekistan will train 100 Afghan railway specialists and accept 500 Afghan students for a grant work that has begun to simplify the issuance of visas to Uzbekistan for Afghan students and businessmen,” Norov wrote.
One of the main announcements was the introduction of a Preferential Trade Agreement, which will come into effect on October 1, 2024. This agreement will eliminate import duties on 14 different products, simplify the process for exporters, and increase trade flow between the two countries. To further support cross-border trade, the Ayritom-Khayraton border post has switched to 24-hour working hours starting August 1, 2024.
Previously, The Times of Central Asia reported that the Uzbek side has finished repairing the Naibabad railway station in Afghanistan.
