Business leaders from Afghanistan and Uzbekistan signed more than $65 million in trade agreements at a joint forum in eastern Uzbekistan, according to a statement by the chamber of commerce and industries (ACCI).
The event, held Sunday in the city of Kokand in Uzbekistan’s Fergana region, brought together private sector representatives from both countries.
ACCI said its delegation led by its deputy for investment, Aryan Zalgi Azimi, participated at the event alongside Uzbek business figures.
According to a statement from the chamber, 10 agreements were signed covering sectors including textiles, raw materials and pharmaceuticals — areas seen as key to boosting cross-border trade.
The Afghanistan delegation included senior ACCI officials and a 40-member group of business representatives. During the visit, participants also toured industrial sites and historical landmarks in Kokand, including manufacturing facilities for garments, ceramics and construction materials, the statement said.
The agreements come as Afghanistan increasingly looks to regional partners, particularly in Central Asia, to sustain trade flows amid ongoing economic challenges and reduced access to global financial systems.
Uzbekistan has emerged as one of Afghanistan’s key economic partners in recent years, maintaining trade links and investing in infrastructure projects aimed at improving connectivity, including rail and energy initiatives.
Bilateral trade between the two countries has grown steadily, with both sides emphasizing cooperation in energy exports, agriculture and manufacturing. Uzbek officials have previously expressed interest in expanding electricity supply and facilitating transit routes through Afghanistan to South Asia.
Afghanistan’s private sector has faced significant constraints since 2021, including banking restrictions, declining international aid and restricted access to foreign markets. In this context, regional trade agreements are seen as critical to sustaining business activity and employment.
Business leaders have increasingly turned to neighboring countries to offset those pressures, seeking opportunities in sectors such as textiles and pharmaceuticals, where cross-border demand remains strong.
The ACCI described the Kokand meeting as an important step toward strengthening economic ties and creating new opportunities for trade and investment.
