Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar Akhund Meets with Jamshid Khodjayev

The Deputy PM for Economic Affairs, Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar Akhund, today, Sunday, July 26, 2026, met with Jamshid Khodjayev, Deputy PM of Uzbekistan, and his accompanying delegation at the Chahar Chinar Palace of the Arg.
During the meeting, the two sides discussed the expansion of bilateral economic, trade, investment, and transit cooperation.
Deputy PM Mullah Baradar Akhund described the development and stability of relations between Kabul and Tashkent as beneficial not only to the economic interests of both countries but also to regional stability. He added that the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan is ready to further strengthen and expand these relations by making full use of all available capacities.
Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar Akhund emphasized the more effective implementation of the Joint Action Plan between the two countries, stating that it plays an important role in promoting the economic growth of both sides. The Deputy PM further highlighted the importance of removing the existing obstacles to the movement of vehicles transporting Afghan exports to Uzbekistan in order to facilitate and expand trade, economic, and transit cooperation between Kabul and Tashkent; granting exemptions for Afghan transit goods arriving from China, Central Asia, and Russia; facilitating, on the part of Uzbekistan, the export of Afghanistan's agricultural products, fresh and dried fruits, food products, and valuable mineral resources to the markets of Central Asia, Russia, and China; increasing the capacity of transit infrastructure; expanding customs facilities; simplifying the issuance of visas for Afghan citizens; and enhancing cooperation in the fields of energy and joint infrastructure projects. 
The Deputy PM also stated, "We believe that broad cooperation between Afghanistan and Uzbekistan will not only elevate bilateral economic relations to a higher level, but will also serve as an exemplary model of good neighborly relations for other countries in the region."
Subsequently, Jamshid Khodjayev, Deputy PM of Uzbekistan, addressed the meeting. He stated that trade between Uzbekistan and Afghanistan has increased significantly compared to previous years and has now reached USD 1.6 billion. He added that Uzbekistan is prepared to accelerate the implementation of projects already initiated by Uzbek investors in Afghanistan, resolve the challenges they face, and launch new projects considered important for the economic growth and development of both countries.
He further stated that Uzbekistan is ready to invest in various mining projects in Afghanistan and, in addition, increase its imports of meat and cotton from Afghanistan. According to him, the Uzbek side is also prepared to establish a USD 50 million processing plant in Hairatan for the processing of zinc ore.
During the meeting with the Deputy PM for Economic Affairs, Jamshid Khodjayev further stated that Uzbek officials visiting Afghanistan to advance cooperation in the fields of transport and energy, agricultural development, banking, trade, and economic relations, as well as to enhance the capacity of Afghan professionals in various sectors, will work jointly with the relevant institutions of the Islamic Emirate.