Nooruddin Azizi, the acting Minister of Industry and Commerce, reported on Saturday that 75% of Afghanistan's products were sold at the four-day Uzbekistan exhibition.
Azizi, highlighting various agreements worth $100 million between Afghan and Uzbekistani traders, mentioned that discussions were held with Uzbekistani officials on preferential trade and the facilitation of seventeen sectors between the two countries.
At this exhibition, 250 Afghan traders and industrialists showcased domestic products in Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan.
Azizi told reporters, "Contracts worth more than $100 million have been made, and the Prime Minister of Uzbekistan has pledged to use Afghanistan's travertine and marble. Most of our industrial products needed in Uzbekistan will be prioritized."
Azizi also stated that agreements were reached with Uzbekistani officials on expanding cooperation regarding the implementation of the Trans-Afghan railway project and extending the Termez-Mazar-i-Sharif railway to Herat and Kandahar.
Investment by Uzbekistan traders in the iron, oil, and agriculture sectors was another topic discussed between the Acting Minister of Industry and Commerce and Uzbekistan officials.
The acting Minister added, "The railway line from Mazar-i-Sharif, Herat, and Kandahar was our biggest achievement in the discussions. We shared our previous plans and maps for this railway line with them, and we are confident that this project will start soon."
Sakhi Ahmad Paiman, the First Deputy of the Afghanistan Chamber of Industries and Mines, who attended the exhibition in Tashkent, said, "Fortunately, our domestic products were welcomed by Uzbekistani companies, and dozens of contracts were signed with our industrialists in various sectors, creating an opportunity for Afghanistan's exports to Uzbekistan."
According to the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, other issues discussed and agreed upon between the Islamic Emirate delegation and Uzbekistani officials included the establishment of a joint chamber of commerce between Afghanistan and Uzbekistan, visa issuance facilitation, banking transactions, removing restrictions at the Hairatan trade port for traders from both countries, and expanding joint cooperation, including electricity imports from Uzbekistan.