Mirziyoyev receives Taliban official for the first time

On June 11, President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev received Nuriddin Azizi, Acting Minister of Industry and Trade of the Taliban’s interim government, who is attending the Tashkent International Investment Forum. The meeting was reported by the presidential press service.

At the outset, Minister Azizi conveyed sincere greetings from the Taliban leadership to the President of Uzbekistan.

The two sides discussed prospects for expanding mutually beneficial cooperation in key sectors such as trade and economy, transport and logistics, energy, agriculture, as well as geology, mineral exploration, and resource development.

President Mirziyoyev welcomed the growing intensity of business ties and underscored the importance of strengthening the legal and contractual framework for economic and investment collaboration.

Special emphasis was placed on the accelerated development of the Hayraton Industrial Center, with plans to localize the production of pharmaceuticals, furniture, textiles, construction materials, and agro-processing facilities.

The Uzbek side also expressed support for major regional infrastructure initiatives, including the construction of the Trans-Afghan Railway and the Surkhan–Puli-Khumri power transmission line.