The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan and Uzbekistan have agreed to increase trade to $ 3 billion.

Uzbekistan and the "Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan" (IEA, the self-designation of the country by the Taliban*) signed a preferential trade agreement, it will enter into force on October 1, reports Газета.uz .

The delegation of Uzbekistan headed by Prime Minister Abdulla Aripov visited Kabul on August 17. Representatives of Uzbekistan held meetings with the head of the IEA Government Abdul Ghani Baradar, his Deputy for Administrative Affairs Abdul Salam Hanafi, Deputy for Political Affairs Abdul Kabir and Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaki. During the talks, the parties noted that "relations between the countries are based on the principles of friendship, cooperation and good neighborliness," and Uzbekistan considers Afghanistan as an integral part of Central Asia.

The issues of developing trade relations, bringing effective cooperation in the energy sector to a new level, implementing joint projects for the development of copper, iron, oil and gas deposits, as well as in the field of transport and logistics, agriculture and water management, education, and the development of interregional relations were discussed. Representatives of Uzbekistan and Afghanistan noted that there are all opportunities to increase mutual trade turnover to $ 1 billion in 2024 and up to $ 3 billion in the near future, and for this it is necessary to "consistently implement unused resources on a mutually beneficial basis."

According to TOLOnews, 35 investment and trade agreements worth $ 2.5 billion have been signed between the countries. In particular, over the next two years, geological exploration will be carried out in the provinces of Zabul, Maidan Wardak and Bamyan to search for oil, gas, iron and copper ore deposits.

Abdulla Aripov and Abdul Ghani Baradar also met with businessmen from Afghanistan and Uzbekistan. As a result of the negotiations, import duties on 14 different goods will be abolished, as well as facilities for exporters will be created. To further increase the import of agricultural products from Afghanistan, it is planned to simplify the procedure for issuing phytosanitary permits.

Since August 1, the Ayritom-Hairaton border post has already been switched to round-the-clock operation. A 15-day visa-free regime and exemption from all taxes will be introduced for visitors to the Termez International Trade Center.

For the active work of Afghan businessmen in Uzbekistan, an agreement on mutual promotion and protection of investments was signed between the two countries.

The delegation of Uzbekistan also took part in the official opening ceremony of the Uzbekistan-Afghanistan business forum and the Made In Uzbekistan exhibition in Kabul. The exhibition presents textile, leather and footwear products, carpets, fruit and vegetable products, electrical and cable products, automotive and agricultural machinery, metallurgical, petrochemical and many other types of finished products of enterprises of Uzbekistan. The exhibition will run until August 21.

*Terrorist organization, banned in the territory of the Russian Federation