KABUL/TASHKENT (SW) – A three-day exhibition showcasing Afghanistan’s domestic products opened on Tuesday, in Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan.
The exhibition aims to expand trade relations with Central Asian countries, especially Uzbekistan.
During his visit to Uzbekistan, the Acting Minister of Commerce and Industry Nooruddin Azizi stated that 250 Afghan manufacturers and traders are displaying their products at the exhibition.
“We have been in contact with Uzbekistan for six months, planning this exhibition. A total of 250 companies and traders are showcasing their products here,” Azizi said.
Yonus Momand, Deputy Head of the Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Investment, emphasized that the exhibition provides an opportunity for Afghan goods to be marketed and sold. “We are displaying agricultural products and handicrafts, and I assure you this exhibition will be better than previous ones,” Momand added.
Some traders participating in the exhibition expressed their hopes of signing agreements with Uzbek traders by the end of the event. Nasir Rashtia, a businessman, mentioned, “We hope to sign agreements with Uzbek traders and expand our exports to Uzbekistan.”
On the sidelines of the exhibition, a business networking event and bilateral discussions between Afghan and Uzbek traders are also scheduled to take place.
According to the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, trade between Afghanistan and Uzbekistan increased in 2023, with Afghanistan conducting $266 million in trade compared to $44 million in 2022.
