Business communities from Afghanistan and Uzbekistan on Thursday signed an agreement to establish a joint business council, in a move the chamber of commerce says is intended to strengthen trade and economic ties between the two countries.
The agreement was signed during the first meeting of the Afghanistan-Uzbekistan Business Council, held Thursday in Tashkent, according to a statement from the Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Investment (ACCI).
ACCI chief Karim Hashemi described the council as a strategic initiative and a “practical mechanism” to address challenges, accelerate cooperation and translate existing capacities into economic opportunities.
He said the body could serve as a driver of bilateral economic growth by increasing trade volumes, improving market access and expanding cooperation in key sectors, including transit, energy, agriculture and industry.
Hashemi also pointed to Afghanistan’s geographic position as a link between Central and South Asia and said it could complement Uzbekistan’s industrial capacity, offering opportunities for deeper regional integration.
Dawron Vakhabov, chairman of Uzbekistan’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry, welcomed the initiative, calling it an important step toward institutionalizing economic cooperation.
He said the council could help identify trade and investment opportunities and expressed hope that bilateral trade could grow from about $1.68 billion to $5 billion in the coming years.
The two sides also discussed measures to facilitate business activity, including holding regular trade exhibitions and establishing representative offices of their chambers in each other’s countries.
At the conclusion of the meeting, members of the new business council were introduced, and both sides agreed to set up offices to support its operations in Tashkent and Afghanistan.
