Business
Afghanistan–Uzbekistan forum secures $520 million in trade and investment deals
Officials said the agreements include $300 million in investment commitments, $150 million in imports, and $70 million in exports.
A joint business forum between Afghan and Uzbek private sector representatives in Kabul has resulted in the signing of 38 agreements valued at $520 million, underscoring deepening economic ties between the two neighbours.
Participants at the forum, including traders from Afghanistan and Uzbekistan’s Andijan Region, finalized deals spanning investment, imports, and exports. Officials said the agreements include $300 million in investment commitments, $150 million in imports, and $70 million in exports.
Afghanistan’s Minister of Commerce and Industry, Nooruddin Azizi, said the latest deals add to a growing portfolio of bilateral agreements, with total contracts between the two countries now exceeding $1 billion. He noted that economic relations between Kabul and Tashkent are shifting from dialogue to concrete implementation.
Azizi highlighted Afghanistan’s potential as a key market for Uzbek goods while also stressing the country’s export capacity. He emphasized the importance of joint investment partnerships and reaffirmed government support for both domestic and foreign investors.
The Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Investment reported significant progress in recent months, stating that trade agreements worth $1.4 billion have been signed over the past six months, with some already in operation. The chamber estimates that annual trade between the two countries has reached around $1.5 billion.
Officials from Uzbekistan also pointed to expanding cooperation. Shuhratbek Abdurakhmonov said bilateral relations are steadily improving and noted that Uzbek businesses are ready to share expertise with Afghan partners.
Meanwhile, Davron Vakhobov said Uzbek investors are already active across a range of sectors in Afghanistan, including poultry, textiles, food production, furniture, leather goods, energy infrastructure, pharmaceuticals, and construction. He expressed confidence that private-sector collaboration will continue to grow.
Local authorities also encouraged Uzbek investors to explore opportunities in Nangarhar Province, saying favourable conditions have been created to support new investments.