The Economic Deputy of the Office of the Prime Minister has said that Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, at the inauguration ceremony of the Termez International Trade Center, emphasized the importance of this center in expanding political relations, increasing exports, and connecting Central Asia with South Asia.
On the sidelines of this inauguration, Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar met with several Uzbek officials, including the Prime Minister of Uzbekistan, and discussed the development of commercial relations and the attraction of investment.
Baradar added that the opening of this center would increase investment opportunities, trade relations, and employment in both countries.
Hamdullah Fitrat, Deputy Spokesperson for the Islamic Emirate, regarding the visit of the Islamic Emirate delegation to the border city of Termez and the inauguration of this center, said: “During the opening of this center, the Economic Deputy of the Prime Minister said that with the opening of this center, an important step will be taken in mutual trade relations and regional cooperation.”
The Prime Minister of Uzbekistan has stated that Tashkent is ready to provide facilities for exporting Afghanistan’s fresh fruits to Central Asian and other countries.
Sakhi Ahmad Paiman, the First Deputy of the Chamber of Industries and Mines, commented on the importance of such trips: “The visits of high-level Uzbek delegations to Afghanistan, as well as the multiple visits of Afghan delegations to that country, demonstrate the development of our trade relations with Uzbekistan, enabling us to utilize each other’s capacities.”
The Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Investment says that Afghan investments in the Termez International Trade Center can boost exports from Afghanistan.
Khan Jan Alokozai, a board member of the Chamber of Commerce and Investment, said: “The conditions here are very easy, and anyone can easily invest; Afghans can also bring their goods here and sell them.”
Meanwhile, on the sidelines of the inauguration ceremony, Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar also met with the Deputy Prime Minister of Azerbaijan. Baradar welcomed the opening of that country’s embassy in Kabul and urged Azerbaijan’s private sector to invest in Afghanistan.
The Deputy Prime Minister of Azerbaijan also emphasized that his country is ready to reactivate the Lapis Lazuli route to expand its trade relations with Afghanistan and increase the level of imports.
Mir Shekib Mir, an economic analyst, commented on relations with Azerbaijan, saying: “Azerbaijan’s cooperation with Afghanistan in facilitating access to European markets through the transport of Afghan goods via the Lapis Lazuli route could be beneficial for Afghanistan’s trade.”
This comes less than two weeks after a delegation led by the Prime Minister of Uzbekistan visited Afghanistan, resulting in the signing of 35 investment and trade agreements worth $2.5 billion between Kabul and Tashkent.
