Business Meeting Between the Private Sectors of Afghanistan and Uzbekistan Held

The Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Investment (ACCI), with the aim of expanding trade relations, exchanging ideas, and attracting investments to the country, held a meeting titled “Business Meeting of the Private Sectors of Afghanistan and Uzbekistan” at the Kabul Grand Hotel.

During the meeting, memorandums of understanding (MoUs) worth over 20 million USD were signed between traders and investors of the two countries in sectors such as healthcare, furniture, vegetables, oil and gas, logistics, cosmetics, construction, solar energy, and machinery.

Mr. Sayed Karim Hashimi, Chairman of ACCI, welcomed the guests and participants, describing Uzbekistan as a good friend with cultural commonalities and strong trade-economic ties with Afghanistan. He considered the visit of the Uzbekistan trade delegation to Afghanistan as important for the development of trade relations and the increase of joint investments between the two countries. He added that nationwide peace and security in Afghanistan have encouraged traders from neighboring and global countries to invest in various sectors of the country.

Mr. Hashimi stated that trade growth, increased investment in various sectors, facilitation for domestic and foreign investors by relevant government bodies, simplification of administrative procedures, the presence of both potential and actual investment capacities, vast natural and mineral resources, and the growing trade relations between Afghanistan and regional countries, especially Uzbekistan, reflect a new chapter in Afghanistan’s economic relations with the world. He also emphasized that facilitating the visa issuance process for Afghan traders is crucial in expanding bilateral trade relations, and requested the Ambassador of Uzbekistan to pay serious attention to this matter.

The Chairman of ACCI considered the signing of a trade MoU between Afghanistan and Uzbekistan—aimed at creating preferential tariffs on the export goods of both countries—an encouraging step, and assured ACCI’s full cooperation for the growth of trade between the two sides.

Mr. Nooruddin Azizi, Acting Minister of Industry and Commerce of Afghanistan, referred to his recent visit to Uzbekistan and described trade relations between the two countries as improving. He noted Afghanistan’s role as a transit hub linking South Asia with Central Asia, and called on all traders participating in the meeting to seize the opportunity and engage in joint investments in various economic sectors with Uzbek traders.

Mr. Mohammad Younus Mohmand, First Vice Chairman of ACCI, expressed his appreciation to the leadership of the Islamic Emirate and the Economic Deputy of the Prime Minister’s Office for their support of the private sector and for defining their foreign trade policies. He described the establishment of a regional joint chamber of commerce among Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, and Türkiye as important for increasing the export volume of Afghan products to global markets, resolving private sector problems promptly, and creating transit facilities among the mentioned countries.

Mr. Mohmand described Afghanistan as a transit hub for Asian countries and encouraged Uzbek traders to transport their goods through Afghanistan to South Asian countries. He also regarded the current opportunities in Afghanistan as a favorable ground for investments, urging Uzbek traders to invest jointly with Afghan traders in various Afghan sectors.

Mr. Ebek Usmanov thanked ACCI for organizing the meeting, calling such gatherings important for developing trade relations between the two countries. He considered Afghanistan’s nationwide security vital for economic, industrial, and trade growth, and assured full cooperation with ACCI in resolving the problems of Afghan traders.

Mr. Tashmatov, Head of Exports at the Uzbekistan Chamber of Commerce, referred to the increase in trade between Afghanistan and Uzbekistan over the past year and described the role of such meetings as valuable for developing bilateral trade. He stated that the main purpose of their visit to Afghanistan was to pursue joint investments with Afghan traders and find practical solutions for addressing the problems of the private sectors of both countries.

In addition to the above-mentioned speakers, the meeting was attended by ACCI leadership members, the Uzbekistan trade delegation, and a large number of traders and investors from both countries.

 

Sunday, 12 Asad 1404