The Taliban signed a "historic" agreement with Uzbekistan

The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA, the self-designation of the country by the Taliban) and Uzbekistan have signed a preferential trade agreement. It is reported by Ariana News with reference to the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the IEA.

The document was signed by Acting Minister of Industry and Trade of the IEA Nuruddin Azizi and Minister of Investment, Industry and Trade of Uzbekistan Laziz Kudratov at the International Investment Forum in Tashkent.

As stated in the release, "this historic document is aimed at reducing tariffs, removing trade barriers, facilitating access of goods to markets between the two countries and increasing the level of bilateral trade."

The statement also said that the signing of the agreement marks an important milestone in economic relations between the two countries. During the meeting, a Joint Action Plan of Afghanistan and Uzbekistan was also signed, aimed at expanding bilateral cooperation in various sectors, including trade, industry, agriculture, logistics and capacity building.

The signing of these documents is considered a significant step towards deepening economic relations, supporting the private sector, encouraging investment and promoting sustainable regional trade. During the meeting, both sides discussed and exchanged views on the implementation of previous commitments, confirming their firm commitment to creating practical foundations for long-term cooperation.