Afghanistan and Uzbekistan have signed a landmark Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) alongside a Joint Action Plan, aiming to deepen economic ties and promote sustainable regional trade.

The agreement was formalized during the 4th Tashkent International Investment Forum in a high-level meeting between Afghanistan’s Minister of Industry and Commerce Nooruddin Azizi and Uzbekistan’s Minister of Investment, Industry and Trade Laziz Kudratov.

The new trade pact is designed to reduce tariffs and dismantle trade barriers, thereby ensuring smoother access to each other’s markets and enhancing bilateral commerce. Officials said the PTA is a key move toward accelerating economic integration and supporting private sector growth in both countries.

In a statement, Afghanistan’s Ministry of Industry and Commerce emphasized that the Joint Action Plan accompanying the agreement marks a crucial step in supporting long-term trade development, investment cooperation, and the creation of practical economic platforms.

During the meeting, both ministers reaffirmed their strong commitment to expanding trade volumes and encouraging mutually beneficial partnerships across industrial and commercial sectors. The two sides also discussed strategies to implement the agreement effectively, with a focus on stimulating investment, job creation, and infrastructure development.

The agreement reflects growing regional interest in establishing robust economic corridors across Central and South Asia, with Afghanistan positioned as a vital link for transit and trade.

Observers say the deal may also bolster Afghanistan’s bid to diversify its economic partnerships and strengthen regional integration amid ongoing efforts to stabilize its economy through constructive diplomacy and commerce. (ILKHA)