Taliban, Uzbekistan Aim to Increase Bilateral Trade to $5 Billion

Officials from Uzbekistan and the Taliban administration announced plans to raise their bilateral trade volume to $5 billion over the next five years.

Jamshid Khodjaev, Uzbekistan's deputy prime minister, and Nooruddin Azizi, the Taliban's minister of industry and commerce, discussed practical steps for expanding trade and economic cooperation during an online conference. Khodjaev wrote on his LinkedIn account on Monday that Uzbekistan attaches special importance to "friendly and constructive" relations with Afghanistan. He noted that bilateral trade has increased 2.5 times over the past five years, from $653 million in 2021 to $1.7 billion in 2025.

"Our common goal is to increase this figure to $5 billion," Khodjaev added. The two sides agreed to accelerate implementation of a preferential trade agreement and advance investment projects and industrial cooperation. He stated that practical actions, including a business forum in Kabul and developing a roadmap for priority sectors, will begin after Ramadan.

Azizi said trade volume between the two countries will increase several-fold. He emphasized the serious commitment to strengthening trade ties, highlighted by the 24-hour operations at the Hairatan and Termez ports.

According to published statistics, trade between Afghanistan and Uzbekistan reached about $1.1 billion in 2024, with nearly $1 billion consisting of Uzbekistan's exports to Afghanistan. Prior to 2021, trade levels exceeded $600 million.

Following the severance of Afghanistan's trade relations with Pakistan, exchanges with Central Asian countries, particularly Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan, as well as Iran, India, and China, have risen. The Taliban has sought to develop alternative transit routes to reduce dependence on Pakistani ports.