Uzbekistan Ready to Invest $50 Million in Hairatan Zinc Processing Plant
Jamshid Khodjaev, Deputy Prime Minister of Uzbekistan, announced that his country is prepared to invest $50 million to establish a zinc ore processing plant in the Hairatan port.
He stated that Uzbekistan is also interested in expanding its investment scope in Afghanistan’s mines and increasing imports of meat and cotton from Afghanistan. He added that the implementation process of projects initiated by Uzbek investors in Afghanistan has been accelerated and measures will be taken to resolve their issues.
These remarks were made on Sunday, July 26, during a meeting with Abdul Ghani Baradar, Deputy Economic Prime Minister of the Taliban administration in Kabul.
During the meeting, Abdul Ghani Baradar called for more effective implementation of the “joint plan” between the two sides, describing it as crucial for the economic growth of both countries. He also emphasized removing obstacles to the movement of vehicles carrying Afghan export goods to Uzbekistan, granting exemptions for Afghan transit goods, and providing facilities for exporting agricultural products, fresh and dried fruits, foodstuffs, and minerals to markets in Central Asia, Russia, and China.
Additional requests made by the Deputy Economic Prime Minister included facilitating visa issuance for Afghan citizens, increasing the capacity of transit infrastructure, expanding customs services, and cooperating in energy and joint infrastructure projects.
Baradar also claimed that expanding economic cooperation between Afghanistan and Uzbekistan could enhance bilateral relations and serve as a model of good neighborliness in the region.
The Deputy Prime Minister of Uzbekistan arrived in Kabul yesterday leading a delegation of government officials and representatives of the private sector. The Hairatan port in Balkh province is considered one of Afghanistan’s most important trade gateways to Central Asia.
