Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev met with Nuriddin Azizi, Acting Minister of Industry and Trade of Afghanistan, who arrived in Tashkent to participate in the International Investment Forum.

At the outset of the meeting, the Afghan official conveyed sincere greetings and best wishes from the Afghan leadership to the Uzbek President.

The two sides held in-depth discussions on ways to deepen mutually beneficial cooperation, particularly in the areas of trade, transport and logistics, energy, agriculture, and mineral exploration and extraction.

Both parties noted with satisfaction the positive momentum in bilateral business ties in recent years. Mutual trade volumes have been steadily growing, the number of joint ventures is on the rise, and business missions and trade exhibitions are being held on a regular basis.

The International Trade Center in Termez continues to operate successfully, and in May 2025, Uzbekistan opened trade houses in Kabul and Mazar-i-Sharif, further enhancing its commercial presence in Afghanistan.

President Mirziyoyev emphasized the importance of strengthening the legal and contractual framework for bilateral relations, particularly in the economic and investment spheres.

Special attention was given to the accelerated launch of the “Hairatan Industrial Center”, which is planned to host production facilities for pharmaceuticals, furniture, textiles, construction materials, and agricultural processing.

The meeting also reaffirmed support for the implementation of strategically important regional infrastructure projects, including the construction of the Trans-Afghan Railway and the Surkhan–Pul-e-Khumri power transmission line.