<p style="text-align: justify;">KABUL (Pajhwok): Afghanistan and Uzbekistan have underlined the need to expand cooperation in the pharmaceutical sector and strengthen bilateral trade, officials said.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">According to a statement from the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Minister Nooruddin Azizi met with Abdullah Azizov, head of Uzbekistan’s Pharmaceutical Industry Development Agency and his delegation.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Azizi emphasized the importance of strengthening friendly and economic ties between the two countries.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">He noted that trade volume has increased by more than 50 percent, describing the growth as positive and highlighted the potential for further expansion through joint cooperation.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">The minister also stressed the importance of importing high-quality medicines from Uzbekistan, noting that Afghanistan is paying close attention to quality control and fair pricing in the domestic pharmaceutical market.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">He added that cooperation in the health and pharmaceutical sectors could be expanded beyond current levels and invited Uzbek investors and companies to partner with Afghan businesses.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Azizov expressed Uzbekistan’s strong interest in enhancing economic cooperation, particularly in the pharmaceutical sector.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">He said more than 20 major pharmaceutical companies accompanied the Uzbek delegation, all interested in investing in Afghanistan.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">He also announced plans to establish a joint working group with Afghanistan’s Food and Drug Authority to address technical matters and facilitate bilateral cooperation.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Azizov highlighted the need to set up large pharmaceutical distribution centers across the country and called for government support to improve public access to quality and affordable medicines.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">The ministry said that at the conclusion of the meeting, Azizi reaffirmed Afghanistan’s commitment to expanding cooperation with Uzbekistan and announced that a delegation from the Afghan private sector would soon visit Uzbekistan to engage with the health sector and tour pharmaceutical production facilities.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">hz/sa</p>
