Sunday, August 30, 2026
The official delegation of Qashqadaryo Province of the Republic of Uzbekistan, comprising government officials and businesspeople from the province, which arrived in Afghanistan on Saturday, met with the leadership of the Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Investment (ACCI) and a number of Afghan traders and investors at a business networking conference between the private sectors of Afghanistan and Qashqadaryo.
The delegation included Mr. Shahrat Muradov, Deputy Governor of Qashqadaryo Province, along with a number of officials and representatives of the province in the fields of trade, investment, and international relations.
The conference, held at Kabul Grand Hotel, consisted of two main parts: an official meeting between the leadership of the Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Investment and the Qashqadaryo delegation, followed by a Business-to-Business (B2B) networking session.
Meeting Between the Qashqadaryo Delegation and the Leadership of ACCI
During the first part of the program, the Uzbek delegation met with the leadership of the Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Investment and discussed the expansion of trade relations, joint investment, facilitation of business travel, and the creation of new areas of cooperation between the private sectors of the two sides.
Representing the Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Investment were Mr. Arian Zalgai Azimi, Deputy for Investment; Mr. Abdul Nafi Barakzai, Deputy for Support of Domestic Production and Products; Mr. Mujib-ul-Rahman Shirzad, Deputy for Strategic Relations; Mr. Gulbahar Habibi, Deputy for Commerce; Mr. Obaidullah Hotak, Member of the Board of Directors; Mr. Zainullah Hassany, Deputy and Acting Head of the Executive Board; and Mr. Ahmad Shakil Hazim, Deputy for Technical Policy of the Executive Board.
Mr. Arian Zalgai Azimi, Deputy for Investment at the Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Investment, welcomed the Qashqadaryo delegation and emphasized the importance of expanding economic and trade relations between Afghanistan and Uzbekistan.
He described Afghanistan’s geographical and economic position as an important opportunity for developing regional transit and trade networks, noting that Afghanistan can serve as a key route connecting Central Asia with South Asia and facilitate Uzbekistan’s access to regional and international markets.
The Deputy for Investment also emphasized the need to provide greater facilities for traders and investors from both countries and called on the Uzbek delegation to pay greater attention to facilitating the visa issuance process for Afghan traders and investors. He noted that facilitating business travel could increase direct contacts between the private sectors of the two countries and contribute to the expansion of economic cooperation.
Mr. Gulbahar Habibi, Deputy for Trade at the Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Investment, proposed holding a dedicated exhibition of Uzbek products and goods in Kabul and inviting Uzbek companies to participate in the Imam Abu Hanifa (RA) International Exhibition. He described such an exhibition as an excellent opportunity to introduce Uzbek products to Afghan traders, investors, and consumers and to contribute to the expansion of trade relations between the two countries.
Qashqadaryo Delegation Emphasizes Economic Cooperation
During the meeting, Mr. Shahrat Muradov, Deputy Governor of Qashqadaryo Province and head of the Uzbek delegation, expressed his appreciation for the warm reception and friendly treatment extended by Afghan officials and the private sector to the delegation.
He described the longstanding historical and friendly relations between the peoples of Afghanistan and Uzbekistan, as well as the long history of trade interactions between the two countries, as important foundations for expanding economic cooperation. He stated that strengthening economic relations and business networking between the two countries could further consolidate friendly relations and create new opportunities for the private sectors of both sides.
Mr. Muradov highlighted Qashqadaryo’s economic potential, describing the province as one of Uzbekistan’s important economic centers. He noted that a significant portion of Uzbekistan’s oil and gas resources is located in Qashqadaryo. He also highlighted the province’s agricultural potential and referred to its significant wheat and cotton production during the past year.
The Deputy Governor of Qashqadaryo invited the leadership of the Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Investment to visit the province, explore its trade and investment opportunities and capacities, and examine ways to establish and facilitate joint cooperation and investment between the private sectors of the two sides.
Uzbek Ambassador Emphasizes Visa Facilitation
Mr. Aybek Usmanov, Ambassador of the Republic of Uzbekistan to Afghanistan, addressed the Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Investment’s request for facilitating visa issuance for Afghan traders and investors. He stated that he had raised the matter with senior officials of his country and would work toward addressing the issue and finding an appropriate solution.
B2B Meeting Between Traders and Investors of the Two Countries
The second part of the program consisted of a Business-to-Business (B2B) networking session attended by Mr. Ahmadullah Zahid, Deputy Minister of Industry and Commerce, as well as traders and investors from Afghanistan and Qashqadaryo.
Mr. Arian Zalgai Azimi, Deputy for Investment at the Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Investment, described direct B2B meetings between traders and investors of the two countries as an important opportunity to identify potential areas of cooperation, establish business relationships, explore investment opportunities, and develop joint partnerships.
Referring to Afghanistan’s economic capacities and resources, he identified agriculture, mining, industry, energy, transportation, and construction as important areas for investment. He emphasized that economic relations between Afghanistan and Uzbekistan should not remain limited to the buying and selling of goods and ordinary trade transactions.
The Deputy for Investment stressed that, by utilizing the economic potential and favorable geographical position of both countries, opportunities should be created for implementing major joint and infrastructure projects, while economic cooperation should be elevated from limited bilateral transactions to broader regional and international partnerships.
Ministry of Industry and Commerce Emphasizes Increasing Trade Volume
Mr. Ahmadullah Zahid, Deputy Minister of Industry and Commerce, described trade and investment opportunities between Afghanistan and Uzbekistan as an important area of economic cooperation between the two countries.
He considered direct visits and meetings between traders and investors from both countries important for gaining a better understanding of economic capacities, developing cooperation, and expanding trade relations. He also emphasized increasing interaction between the private sectors of the two sides.
Mr. Zahid identified increased exports, effective utilization of economic capacities, and the expansion of trade relations as key factors in increasing bilateral trade. He stated that the goal of increasing trade between Afghanistan and Uzbekistan to $5 billion requires stronger economic relations, trade facilitation, and increased direct contact between traders and investors of the two countries.
He also assured the participants of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan’s cooperation in creating the necessary conditions for expanding trade and economic relations with Uzbekistan. He called on the Uzbek Ambassador to take the necessary measures to develop and revive historical trade and transit routes, including routes associated with the Silk Road, and transform them into effective regional and international transit corridors.
19 Agreements Worth $267 Million Signed
At the conclusion of the B2B networking program, traders and investors from Afghanistan and Qashqadaryo, following negotiations and discussions on areas of cooperation, signed 19 joint trade and investment agreements worth a total of AFN 17.7 billion, equivalent to approximately $267 million.
The agreements were signed with the aim of expanding trade cooperation, promoting joint investment, and creating new opportunities for interaction between the private sectors of Afghanistan and Qashqadaryo. Their implementation is expected to contribute to increased economic engagement, market development, and expanded cooperation between the private sectors of the two sides.
The holding of this conference and the signing of the trade and investment agreements represent another important step toward strengthening economic relations between Afghanistan and Uzbekistan and expanding regional cooperation between the private sectors of the two countries.
