Editor in Chief: Moh. Reza Huwaida Thursday, March 28th, 2024

ACCI Calls for Expansion of Trade Ties with Uzbekistan

ACCI Calls for Expansion of  Trade Ties with Uzbekistan

KABUL - Simultaneously with the transit and trade challenges by Pakistan, Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) has called for expansion of trade relations between Afghanistan and Uzbekistan.
“We have great trade relation with Uzbekistan, but in imports. The government should work more on exports,” said Atiqullah Nasrat, chief operating officer of ACCI.
ACCI officials say currently, Afghanistan’s trade deals with Afghanistan reaches to more than 400 million dollars.
In the meantime, Uzbek ambassador to Kabul emphasized over his country’s commitment for the better investment situation in the country.
Reports suggest President Ghani’s recent trip was for a better trade ties with Uzbekistan.
After the formation of the NUG in Afghanistan, Uzbekistan was one of the countries that were included in the first circle of President Ghani’s foreign policy and the Afghan President tried to improve relations with this country in order to enhance economy, transit and etc.
Ghani believed Uzbekistan to be the closest way to connect Afghanistan to China and Russia, therefore, in an unprecedented move, passing through Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, the Afghan government succeeded to connect Afghanistan to China by railway.
In September 2016, the first Chinese train reached to the Hairatan port of Afghanistan and transported Afghanistan’s exporting goods in its way back to China.
The NUG has also inked agreements with Uzbekistan in other areas such as the agreement to rise electricity imports from Uzbekistan by 10%, purchase wheat, improve transit and trade between the two countries and etc.
These agreements have, to some extent, facilitated trade for Afghanistan and have freed Afghanistan from other countries limitations. (ATN)