On December 26, Tashkent hosted the second meeting of the Joint Trade, Transport and Energy Commission between Uzbekistan and Afghanistan. The meeting was chaired by the Uzbek Foreign Economic Relations, Investments and Trade Minister, Elyor Ganiev and senior adviser to Afghan President, Humayun Kayumi.
The Afghan delegation was represented by the Ministers of Agriculture; Public works; Transport and Civil Aviation; Trade and Industry; and Health.
The participants exchanged views on the economic potential of the two countries and the possibilities for increasing bilateral trade volume and cooperation for the development of transport and transit communications.
In a statement Humayun Kayumi highlighted the huge potential for cooperation in various economy sectors and praised the economic reforms in Uzbekistan aimed at the industrial diversification and modernization. He also expressed satisfaction with the pace of trade and economic cooperation which is based on friendship, mutual trust and interest between the two countries. In particular, he underscored Uzbekistan's role in the reconstruction and further development of the Afghan economy through the implementation of infrastructure projects.
The event featured a presentation on Uzbekistan’s economic and export potential and the priority areas for mutually beneficial cooperation.
The first meeting of the Commission was held in Tashkent on 20 April 2015.
A number of intergovernmental and interdepartmental agreements have been signed between Uzbekistan and Afghanistan. In particular, On trade and economic cooperation, On cooperation in railway transport, On international transport routes and On cooperation in transit and transport.
The volume of trade between the two countries in 2015 amounted to $ 444.5 million, and exceeding $ 429 million in 10 months of this year.
