Archive

Tuesday, November 10, 2026

Mr. Sayed Karim Hashemi, Chairman of the Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Investment, participated in a joint meeting of the Governor of Uzbekistan’s Surkhandarya Province and the Governor of Balkh Province, held in Balkh to expand economic, trade, and transit cooperation between the two countries.

The meeting was also attended by Mr. Ismatullah Irgashev, Special Representative of the President of Uzbekistan for Afghanistan; Mawlawi Attaullah Omari, Afghanistan’s Minister of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock; a delegation from Termez; officials from Uzbekistan’s customs, railway, quarantine, and other relevant institutions; the Chairman of the Balkh Chamber of Commerce and Investment; and several representatives of the private sectors of both countries.

In his remarks, Mr. Hashemi raised the challenges faced by Afghan traders in exporting products to Uzbekistan and transiting goods through Uzbekistan to other countries. In particular, he discussed the export of fresh and dried fruits and other commodities, cargo unloading procedures in Uzbekistan, the inspection and assessment of shipments, and the difficulties traders encounter throughout these processes. Following these discussions, a constructive agreement was reached to address traders’ challenges in these areas.

Other issues, including matters related to railway transportation and the establishment of dedicated railway lines, were also discussed in general during the meeting. These proposals were put forward by the Governor of Balkh Province.

It was also agreed that a delegation of Uzbek traders would visit Afghanistan to explore firsthand opportunities for purchasing and importing Afghan agricultural products, particularly apples and pomegranates.

Another part of the meeting addressed the project to reinforce the banks of the Amu River along the Afghan side. Previously, the Governor of Balkh had proposed implementing this project to prevent the erosion of riverbanks and the resulting loss of Afghan territory. During the meeting, it was announced that the President of Uzbekistan had allocated USD 10 million for the project. The Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Investment expresses its gratitude to the Government and President of Uzbekistan for this cooperation.

At the conclusion of the meeting, the participating delegations attended a luncheon hosted by Mr. Sayed Karim Hashemi at his residence.

The meeting was held as part of efforts to strengthen economic and trade relations between Afghanistan and Uzbekistan and address the challenges faced by traders in both countries.

The foundation stone-laying ceremony of Karte Amin Girls’ and Boys’ School was held with the financial support of Mr. Wahidullah Azizi, President of Wahid Tamim Azizi Company and a member of the Board of Directors of the Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Investment. The ceremony was attended by ACCI’s leadership delegation and its representative office in Herat.

The ceremony was attended by Mr. Faiz Ahmad Khawafi, ACCI Deputy for Provincial Affairs; Mr. Mohammad Younis Qazizada, Chairman of the Herat Chamber of Commerce and Investment; and Eng. Mohammad Gul Mahmoodi, Head of Finance of the Chamber’s Board of Directors.

During the event, Mr. Mohammad Younis Qazizada expressed his appreciation for Mr. Azizi’s commendable and valuable initiative. He emphasized that, alongside economic investments, the country has an urgent need for investment in education, culture, and infrastructure, adding that the implementation of such projects can play a significant role in the growth and development of society.

The school will be constructed on a 1,000-square-meter plot, with two floors, at a total cost of more than USD 140,000.

Mr. Mujib-ul-Rahman Shirzad, Deputy for Strategic Relations at the Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Investment, participated in the Doha Process Working Group Meetings, held on 4 and 5 November 2026 in Termez, Republic of Uzbekistan, with the support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA). During the meetings, he delivered two specialized presentations on key economic issues.

The meetings brought together officials from the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, representatives of relevant sectoral ministries, the United Nations, diplomats, international and regional partners, and experts from various fields. Discussions focused on the readiness of Afghan agricultural products for export, human resource development, and the availability of a skilled workforce.

In his first presentation, Mr. Shirzad highlighted Afghanistan’s economic progress and the gradual increase in domestic investment. He also outlined the major challenges facing the country’s exports, particularly the lack of internationally recognized certificates, limited laboratory testing capacity, the need for international accreditation, and the importance of strengthening standardization and quality control systems.

His second presentation addressed the shortage of skilled workers in Afghanistan’s industrial, production, and commercial sectors. He emphasized the need for coordination among the private sector, universities, and technical and vocational education and training (TVET) centers to develop a workforce that meets labor market requirements.

Furthermore, to translate the discussions into practical action, he proposed holding two specialized workshops in Kabul with the participation of the government, private sector, and international community. These workshops would aim to define responsibilities, identify practical solutions, and develop a clear roadmap for addressing export barriers and strengthening the country’s human resource capacity.

The Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Investment reaffirms its commitment to supporting the business community, strengthening exports, attracting investment, and expanding cooperation with national and international institutions to promote sustainable economic growth in Afghanistan.

Mr. Enayatullah Siddiqzai, Deputy of the Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Investment for Services, held a meeting with Mr. Anwar Sharipov, an Uzbek businessman residing in Krasnodar, Russia.

During the meeting, both sides discussed trade and investment opportunities and potential areas of commercial cooperation in various sectors, including edible oils, timber and wood products, livestock farming, agricultural products, and iron and steel products.

They also held detailed discussions on exporting Afghan cotton to international markets, exploring opportunities for trade cooperation, and concluding purchase and sales agreements in the aforementioned sectors.

Welcoming the interest of foreign businesspeople in expanding trade relations with Afghanistan, Mr. Siddiqzai reaffirmed ACCI’s readiness to cooperate, facilitate business contacts, and create the necessary opportunities to connect traders and investors with the country’s private sector.

Mr. Abdul Nafe Barakzai, ACCI Deputy for Supporting Domestic Products and Production, and Mr. Mujib-ul-Rahman Shirzad, ACCI Deputy for Strategic Relations, also attended the meeting.

The meeting was held as part of efforts to identify new trade opportunities, expand exports of Afghan products, attract investment, and strengthen Afghanistan’s economic relations with regional and international countries.

Tuesday, November 10, 2026

Mr. Enayatullah Seddiqzai, Deputy for Services at the Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Investment, met with a number of cotton processors and exporters from Helmand Province to discuss the existing challenges and problems in cotton processing and export operations.

Key issues discussed during the meeting included facilitating visa issuance for cotton exporters, standardizing Afghan cotton, addressing packaging-related challenges, ensuring the supply of standard-quality sacks, improving access to effective and suitable pesticides to combat cotton crop pests, and enhancing the overall quality of the country’s cotton.

At the conclusion of the meeting, it was decided that the issues raised would be followed up through the relevant government authorities. The relevant ACCI departments would also be instructed to take the necessary measures to coordinate efforts and address the existing challenges.

Mr. Mujib-ul-Rahman Shirzad, ACCI Deputy for Strategic Relations, also attended the meeting.