Uzbek President Meets Afghan Deputy PM at ECO Summit

On the sidelines of the Economic Cooperation Organisation (ECO) Summit in the city of Khankendi, President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev held talks with Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, Acting Deputy Prime Minister of Afghanistan for Economic Affairs, the president’s press service reports.

The parties discussed current issues related to expanding mutually beneficial cooperation in trade, transport, logistics and energy.

Particular attention was given to the continued growth in trade turnover and the number of joint ventures.

Business contacts have intensified. In May this year, Uzbekistan opened trading houses in Kabul and Mazar-i-Sharif. In June, a Preferential Trade Agreement was signed between the two sides.

President Mirziyoyev emphasised the importance of developing cross-border trade and related infrastructure, and advancing cooperation projects in mining, textiles, pharmaceuticals, construction materials and agricultural processing.

The two sides also noted the need to accelerate the implementation of the strategically significant regional project – the construction of the Trans-Afghan Railway.

Kursiv also reports that Afghanistan has reached full self-sufficiency in 130 sectors and partial self-reliance in 100 more.