Afghanistan and Uzbekistan have inaugurated a joint trade chamber in Mazar-e-Sharif, the capital of Balkh province.

The initiative is seen as a major step forward in strengthening commercial ties between the neighboring nations under the framework of regional connectivity and mutual prosperity.

The inauguration ceremony was attended by a high-level delegation of 100 Uzbek businessmen, who arrived in Balkh to explore investment and trade opportunities across various sectors. The Afghan side, led by Asadullah Asadi, head of the Balkh Chamber of Commerce and Investment, welcomed the visiting delegation and underlined the joint chamber’s vital role in facilitating cross-border trade.

“This joint trade house will significantly promote trade activities and deepen cooperation between our two brotherly nations,” Asadi stated during the event. He reaffirmed the Islamic Emirate’s commitment to supporting local businessmen and industrialists, emphasizing that both the Chamber and the Department of Industry and Trade are working proactively to solve challenges and provide services to the private sector.

Entrepreneurs from both countries expressed optimism about the prospects of the new trade mechanism. Mustafa Momand, head of the Mazar Hotel commercial center, said the joint chamber would serve as a “key platform” for fostering partnerships between Afghan and Uzbek business communities.

Yarkin Malekov, head of Uzbekistan’s exporters and part of the visiting business delegation, praised the initiative and announced the opening of a permanent exhibition of Uzbek products in Mazar-e-Sharif. The exhibition will display a variety of goods, including food products, pharmaceuticals, and electrical appliances, with the aim of familiarizing Afghan consumers and businesses with Uzbek exports.

Malekov also called on both governments to further streamline customs procedures and simplify visa requirements for businesspersons, saying such steps are necessary to unlock the full potential of trade between the two nations.

The launch of the joint chamber reflects growing regional interest in Mazar-e-Sharif as a strategic commercial hub and a gateway for trade between Central and South Asia. The move is expected to bolster Afghanistan’s economy by increasing export opportunities, improving market access, and creating new jobs across the northern provinces.

The event concluded with both sides pledging to hold regular trade expos, business-to-business meetings, and collaborative investment forums in the near future. (ILKHA)