KABUL (SW) – A delegation consisting of the officials of the Ministry of Trade of Uzbekistan and businessmen of this country has visited Afghanistan on a two-day trip to strengthen trade relations, transit and investment, said an official.
Akhundzada Abdulsalam Javad, the spokesman of the Ministry of Industry and Trade, says that during the meeting, there was a discussion about strengthening investment in Afghanistan, providing transit facilities between Afghanistan, Pakistan and Uzbekistan, increasing customs activities and implementing trade agreements.
He added: “The honorable head of the Ministry of Industry and Trade, this morning met Nazem Jan Khalmuradov, the first deputy of the Ministry of Trade of Uzbekistan. In this meeting, they discussed issues such as reducing transit fees, arranging bilateral, trilateral and multilateral agreements, and increasing customs activities up to 24 hours.”
On Sunday, the Uzbek delegation also met with the officials of the Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Investment and a number of Afghan businessmen. Mirwais Hotak, the CEO of this chamber, said that in this meeting, there was a discussion on solving business challenges, increasing investment in Afghanistan, developing tranzit and creating facilities for businessmen.
He added: “In these meetings, they talked about the growth of investment, export and import between the two countries, creating ease in the ports. For example, there are some problems on both sides of the border in the port of Hairatan, which we are trying to solve, and we hope that they will help in this matter.”
At the same time, a number of experts on economic issues consider strengthening trade relations between Afghanistan and neighboring countries to be effective in expanding trade and creating job opportunities and the economy of Afghanistan.
Sayer Qureshi, an expert on economic issues, says: “It can provide multiple paths for the growth of manufacturing companies, increase investments and encourage businessmen, and on the other hand, create beneficial economic arrangements that will bring stability.”
As per the current year statistics of the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the amount of trade between the two countries reaches nearly one billion dollars annually. Afghanistan exports dried fruit, fruit juice, potatoes, hing and cotton to Uzbekistan and in return imports oil, diesel, natural gas and beans.
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