Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- On 3 July, Tashkent hosted the Uzbek-Afghan Business Forum. The event was attended by Laziz Kudratov, Minister of Investments, Industry, and Trade of the Republic of Uzbekistan, and Nouriddin Azizi, Minister of Industry and Trade of Afghanistan.

Also participating in the event were heads of relevant ministries and agencies, industry associations, and over 1000 representatives from business circles of both countries.

The main areas of cooperation highlighted included expanding the range of mutual trade, strengthening ties between producers and exporters, enhancing contacts between entrepreneurs, and increasing the number of joint events and visits involving business communities from Uzbekistan and Afghanistan.

Special attention was given to measures aimed at further developing mutual trade, such as implementing round-the-clock border crossing regimes, establishing trade houses, and undertaking major transport and infrastructure projects. These initiatives are expected to stimulate growth in product shipments across the region.

During the forum, delegations visited an exhibition of industrial products branded "Made in Afghanistan," showcasing goods from 75 major Afghan companies in jewelry, textiles, food, electrical engineering, mining, transport, and logistics sectors.

The exhibition featured B2B and G2B format negotiations, where entrepreneurs had the opportunity to forge new business contacts, discuss technical details of joint projects, and negotiate trade agreements.

Following the forum, several trade agreements were signed in chemical industry, agriculture, and the establishment of a logistics center.

Afghanistan ranks as Uzbekistan’s fifth largest export market. Over the past five years, bilateral trade between the two countries has increased by almost one and a half times, reaching US$866 million in 2023. Uzbekistan hosts 550 enterprises involving Afghan investments.