Tormoz meeting opens new trade doors between Afghanistan-Uzbekistan

A joint Afghanistan-Uzbekistan trade forum was held recently in Tormoz city in Uzbekistan and brought together high-level officials from both countries including Afghanistan’s acting minister of industry and commerce, Nooruddin Aziz, and his Uzbekistan counterpart Laziz Qudratov.

The meeting provided new opportunities for mutual growth and development, aimed at strengthening economic cooperation, large-scale investments and facilitating trade exchanges.

Afghanistan’s ministry said the meeting, which was also attended by delegations from the private sector, was held in the framework of the implementation of previous agreements and commitments resulting from the visit of Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, Deputy Economic Prime Minister of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) to Uzbekistan.

Various topics were discussed at the forum including important issues such as Uzbekistan’s investment in various sectors of Afghanistan’s economy.

One of the projects under discussion was the establishment of a commercial complex in the land port city of Hairan. Other topics were on food production and processing; poultry farming; pharmaceutical industries; cement production; building materials; horticulture (pistachio orchards) and vegetable and fruit processing facilities, with an initial investment of more than $200 million.

Delegates also discussed the need to hold an expo in Tormoz for regional countries; along with the need to establish trade offices in Afghanistan and Uzbekistan.

Customs cooperation, multiple entry business visas and the establishment of a joint trade committee were discussed.

Officials have said the meeting was an important step in strengthening economic and trade relations between the two countries and has opened new horizons for future cooperation.