Taliban delegation led by Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar met with Uzbek Deputy Prime Minister Jamshid Khodjaev during a two-day visit to Tashkent on Saturday.
During the meeting, the two parties discussed the ways to expand trade and transit relations, as well as Uzbek investments in Afghanistan, Baradar’s office said in a statement.
The Uzbek Deputy PM said Tashkent was ready to create a joint trade zone on the border between the two countries to strengthen bilateral trade ties. The trade zone will include pine nut and cotton processing plants, packaging and logistics centers, and manufacturing plants for various food products.
He also underscored that Uzbek investors were willing to cooperate with the Taliban in oil and gas exploration and production in Afghanistan, as well as invest in the industrial sector, including the construction of a cement plant in Samangan province.
In addition, he stressed that significant progress had been made in the development of the Toti Maidan gas field in Faryab province, and gas production would begin in the near future.
Meanwhile, Mullah Baradar welcomed the proposals of the Uzbek authorities and assured of full support from the Islamic Emirate in the above areas.
