A delegation from Uzbekistan, consisting of government officials and business leaders, arrived in Kabul on Saturday, the Taliban-run commerce ministry said, in a visit aimed at expanding trade and investment between the two countries.
The delegation is led by Shavkat Abdurazaqov, governor of Namangan province, and includes deputy governors and more than 30 business leaders and investors, the ministry said.
According to the ministry, the delegation is expected to hold meetings with Taliban officials and will take part in business forums and discussions focused on economic cooperation.
As part of the visit, the Uzbek delegation is also scheduled to travel to Balkh province, where they will meet local officials and participate in meetings with private sector representatives. An exhibition of Uzbekistan’s products is expected to open in the city of Mazar-i-Sharif in northern Afghanistan.
The visit comes amid a broader push by both sides to deepen economic ties. Uzbekistan has emerged as one of Afghanistan’s key regional trading partners, with bilateral trade estimated at around $1.5 billion to $1.7 billion in recent years.
Afghanistan imports a range of goods from Uzbekistan, including electricity, fuel and construction materials, while exporting agricultural products and other commodities.
Officials from both sides have previously expressed interest in expanding trade to as much as $5 billion, as well as enhancing cooperation in sectors such as energy, transit and infrastructure.
The trip follows earlier meetings between Nooruddin Azizi, the Taliban’s minister of industry and commerce, and Uzbek officials, as well as previous visits by regional governors from Uzbekistan.
Taliban said additional Uzbek delegations are expected to visit Afghanistan in the future as part of efforts to strengthen economic relations.
This visit also follows an agreement in Tashkent between business communities of Uzbekistan and Afghanistan on the establishment of a joint business council to boost trade ties between the two countries.