Afghanistan, Uzbekistan ink $2.5B deals

By Anadolu staff

ANKARA (AA) - Afghanistan and Uzbekistan on Saturday inked a string of memorandums of understanding (MoUs) worth $2.5 billion, state media reported.

Some 35 agreements in energy, agriculture, and manufacturing sectors were signed by Uzbekistan's Prime Minister Abdulla Aripov and Afghanistan's Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar Akhund at the Afghanistan International Exhibition Center in the capital Kabul, state-run Bakhtar News Agency reported.

Government officials and representatives from the private sectors of both countries also attended the signing ceremony.

The MoUs include 12 investment agreements worth $1.4 billion and 23 trade agreements valued at $1.1 billion.

"This landmark signing is a testament to the strong political will and commitment of the leadership in both Afghanistan and Uzbekistan to deepen economic integration in the region," Baradar said while speaking at the event.

"We are confident that these agreements will create new avenues for investment, trade, and job creation, benefiting the people of both our nations," he was quoted as saying.

Aripov arrived in Kabul on Saturday on his first visit to Afghanistan after the Taliban returned to Kabul in 2021.

He will also inaugurate an exhibition showcasing products from both Afghanistan and Uzbekistan.

The two landlocked countries, which share a 144 kilometers (89.4 miles) border, have been steadily improving political, security, and economic cooperation.