Kabul and Tashkent Aim to Boost Bilateral Trade to $5 Billion

Uzbekistan and Afghanistan are planning to increase their bilateral trade volume to $5 billion. Jamshid Khojayev, Deputy Prime Minister of Uzbekistan, announced that this goal was discussed during a video conference with Nooruddin Azizi, the Taliban administration’s Minister of Industry and Commerce.

According to Khojayev, trade between the two countries has seen significant growth over the past five years, increasing by 2.5 times. He added that the trade value rose from $653 million in 2021 to approximately $1.7 billion in 2025.

The Uzbek official also stated that both sides talked about practical steps to develop their commercial and economic cooperation. He noted that preparations for an Afghan delegation’s visit to Uzbekistan were also part of the discussions.

Khojayev said that after the month of Ramadan, cooperation would be pursued more concretely, including holding a trade forum in Kabul and drafting a joint roadmap with specific priorities.

While these remarks have come from Uzbek officials, the Taliban’s Ministry of Industry and Commerce has yet to issue an official response. The lack of transparent communication from the Taliban administration regarding agreements and economic plans has been a recurring concern, with private sector activists frequently calling for greater clarity on such matters.