The Presidential issued the Measures to Further Strengthen and Consolidate Economic Cooperation With the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan Decree.
According to the Decree, Uzbekistan aims to increase the two-way trade with Afghanistan to US$ 2 billion by 2023. In 2019, this figure stood at US$ 618 million, Uzbek exports accounting for US$ 615 million.
The position of Deputy Minister of Investment and Foreign Trade for Economic Cooperation with Afghanistan will be set up.
An interagency working group on development of economic cooperation with Afghanistan has been established and a schedule of measures has been approved.
According to the schedule, Tashkent to Kabul and Tashkent to Mazar-e-Sharif regular direct flights are planned to be launched in January 2021. Negotiations are underway with KamAir and Ariana Afghan Airlines to resume flights that were suspended in March due to the pandemic.
In March 2021, it is planned to sign a preferential trade deal with Afghanistan.
Tasks have been set to open trading houses of Uzbek products and branches of Uzbek banks in Kabul and Mazar-e-Sharif, to simplify and reduce the cost of road and rail transportation.
Uzbekistan intends to increase exports of chicken meat, marble and jewelry, tobacco, hygiene products, furniture, children's clothing, consumer goods, flour and bakery products, vegetable oil and fruits and vegetables to Afghanistan.
Construction of the Mazar-e-Sharif-Kabul railway, which will provide access to Pakistani railways, is scheduled to begin in September 2021.
The construction of the Uzbekistan part of the 500 kW Surkhan-Puli-Khumri transmission line will be completed by March 2021. Construction work in Afghanistan will begin in August 2021.
