Aripov and the Prime Minister of the Taliban open the Termez International Trade Center

Today, August 29, the official opening ceremony of the Termez International Trade Center was held in the city of Termez. The event was attended by the Prime Minister of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Abdulla Aripov, the Acting Prime Minister of the Taliban Provisional Government in Afghanistan, Abdul Ghani Baradar, Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Shakhin Mustafayev, Deputy Minister of Economy and Trade of the Kyrgyz Republic, Nazarbek Malayev, Deputy Minister of Trade and Integration of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Kayrat Turebayev, and others. This was reported by the Uzbek government portal.

"At the event, the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, emphasized the importance of strengthening good neighborly relations with all countries in the region. The Termez International Trade Center was established to create such conditions," the report stated.

It was noted that confidence was expressed that this Center would become an important platform for expanding trade relations and implementing joint projects in the region. The Center also discussed the conditions created for Afghan citizens to engage in trade and access education, healthcare, and other social services.

After the symbolic ribbon-cutting and the official opening of the Center, representatives of the diplomatic corps from Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and other countries toured the Termez International Trade Center's facilities.

The Prime Minister of Uzbekistan held bilateral meetings with the Acting Prime Minister of the Taliban, Abdul Ghani Baradar, and the Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Shakhin Mustafayev, in the city of Termez.

It should be noted that on August 17, the Prime Minister of Uzbekistan, Abdulla Aripov, visited Afghanistan. During this visit, five agreements were signed between Abdulla Aripov and the leadership of the Taliban interim government. It was emphasized that all necessary conditions exist to increase mutual trade turnover between the two countries to $1 billion by 2024 and to $3 billion in the following years, with a focus on efficiently utilizing untapped resources on a mutually beneficial basis. According to reports, the Preferential Trade Agreement between Uzbekistan and Afghanistan will come into force on October 1 of this year.