Afghanistan and Uzbekistan sign $300 million trade deals

Tuesday 17 February 2026 - 14:50

By: Dakir Madiha

Afghanistan and Uzbekistan sign $300 million trade deals

Afghanistan and Uzbekistan have signed 25 commercial agreements worth more than $300 million at a trade connectivity conference aimed at strengthening bilateral commerce and investment between Kabul and Tashkent.

According to Afghanistan’s Ministry of Commerce and Industry, the agreements span construction, food products, agriculture, furniture, textiles and pharmaceuticals. The deals mark the latest step in expanding economic ties between the neighboring countries as Afghanistan’s Taliban-led administration deepens its commercial engagement with Central Asia amid strained trade relations with Pakistan.

The conference was held in Uzbekistan’s Syrdarya region and brought together Afghan Commerce and Industry Minister Nooruddin Azizi, Syrdarya Governor Erkinjon Turdimov and business representatives from both countries. Azizi said there was strong momentum to advance bilateral relations, describing recent years as a period of significant growth in economic cooperation.

Turdimov highlighted the presence of 30 Afghan traders already operating in the Syrdarya region and pointed to joint industrial initiatives and new investment projects. He also outlined investment opportunities in Uzbekistan and encouraged companies from both sides to explore access to European markets.

In addition to the commercial contracts, officials signed a preferential trade agreement covering eight categories of Afghan goods and six categories of Uzbek products, aiming to facilitate market access and reduce trade barriers.

The latest accords build on rapidly expanding trade volumes. Uzbekistan’s National Statistics Committee reported that bilateral trade reached $1,6 billion in 2025, a 45,5 percent increase from $1,1 billion in 2024. Uzbek exports accounted for nearly 94 percent of the total trade turnover.

Azizi said trade between the two countries is expected to continue rising in 2026, adding that there is potential to broaden cooperation beyond current levels.

The strengthening partnership comes as Afghanistan’s Taliban authorities seek alternatives to their historically dominant trade corridor through Pakistan. Border closures and diplomatic tensions have prompted Kabul to redirect commercial flows northward.

Azizi said previously that Afghanistan is working closely with its northern neighbors to establish reliable trade routes. In recent months, the Taliban administration has increased shipments through Iran, Turkmenistan and Tajikistan.

Uzbekistan has invested in infrastructure to support cross border commerce, including the Termez International Trade Center and a new free economic zone near the Afghan frontier. Both countries remain engaged in the proposed Trans Afghan railway project, which would link Central Asia to Pakistani ports on the Arabian Sea.