Baradar asks Uzbekistan for cut in transit charges

KABUL (Pajhwok): A high-level delegation from Uzbekistan promised opening a large business centre in Termez for Afghan businesspeople.

The 45-member team from the neighbouring country held out the promise during a meeting with senior officials of the caretaker government here.

After its arrival in Kabul on Sunday, the delegation led by Uzbekistan’s deputy premier, minister of economy Kuchkarov met senior officials of the Islamic Emirate.

The delegation held talks with Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs, Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar and the acting minister of commerce and industry.

Both sides discussed various aspects, such as trade, transit, economic ties, railway, transportation, mining, water management, agricultural development.

Mullah Baradar said throughout the history, Afghanistan and Uzbekistan had always cooperated with each other in areas of security, politics and economic.

“An exchange of visits by high-level delegations shows that our bilateral relations are developing, and we can make good progress in the trade and transit sector,” he remarked.

Baradar underlined Afghanistan’s commitment to serving as a pivotal transit point in the region. In line with this vision, it has invested in road reconstruction to enhance connectivity between South and Central Asia.

He also discussed the issue of high transit fees for Afghan cargo traveling through Uzbekistan and called for a reduction, his office said in a statement.

The deputy PM commended balanced trade relations between the two countries and anticipated a significant increase in Afghan exports to Uzbekistan.

He encouraged Uzbekistan to consider special preferential tariffs and friendly trade interaction with Afghanistan, the statement added..

Meanwhile, Khodjaev expressed Uzbekistan’s readiness to cooperate with Afghanistan in various sectors, including agriculture, transportation, railways, transit, water management and mining.

He unveiled a trade road map designed to boost Afghanistan’s exports to Uzbekistan to boost the trade volume between the two countries to approximately three billion dollars a year.

According to the statement, Uzbekistan has also simplified the visa process for Afghan businessmen and drivers, with plans to host an exhibition of Afghan products in Tashkent and open a large business centre in Termez.

Baradar also hailed Uzbekistan’s humanitarian assistance to the Herat earthquake victims.

sa/mud