Baradar hails Termez Trade Center as a ‘new chapter’ in Afghan-Uzbek partnership

In a ceremony to inaugurate an international trade center in Uzbekistan’s border city of Termez on Thursday, Mullah Abdul Ghani Bardar, Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs, said that the center marks a new chapter of friendship, cooperation and partnership between Afghanistan and Uzbekistan, laying the groundwork for long-term prosperity and development of both countries.

Baradar noted that the center will enhance investment opportunities, commercial relationships, and job creation in both nations, and will introduce new markets for products and goods, and, overall, accelerate economic growth, according to a statement released by his office.

Highlighting the importance of this center, Mullah Baradar mentioned that the center’s inauguration would facilitate the production, processing, and export of goods, making it easier to access regional and global markets.

This will positively impact the economic relations between the two countries and establish the center as a key economic hub and commercial gateway for Central and South Asian nations, he said.

Furthermore, the trade center will strengthen joint cooperation between the two countries in the fields of technology and innovation.

According to Mullah Baradar, the center will create essential facilities and opportunities for Afghan and Uzbek traders, enabling them to find suitable markets for their products and actively contribute to the region’s economic development.

He called on the international community to establish appropriate reciprocal economic and trade relations with the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, in line with its economy-focused policies, and assured that the Islamic Emirate is committed to providing all necessary support and facilitation in this regard.

The ceremony was also attended by senior officials of Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan.