KABUL: The Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar Akhund, during his visit to Tashkent, met with Uzbekistan’s Deputy Prime Minister, Jamshid Khodjaev, his office said in a statement on its X account on Saturday.
According to the statement, in the meeting, both sides discussed the expansion of trade and transit relations, as well as attracting Uzbek investors to the country.
The Uzbek side expressed readiness to establish a joint trade zone at the border to enhance commercial ties with Kabul, said the statement, adding that the zone will include processing plants for pine nuts and cotton, packaging and logistics centers, and factories for various food products.
The Uzbek Deputy PM emphasized the importance of joint cooperation with the Islamic Emirate in the exploration and extraction of oil and gas in Afghanistan, as well as investing in the establishment of a cement factory in Samangan province. Meanwhile, the IEA Deputy PM for Economic Affairs welcomed the proposals from the Uzbek side and assured full cooperation from the Islamic Emirate in these areas.