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Monday, 27 July 2026
The Afghan–Uzbek Business Forum, a landmark event in the advancement of regional economic cooperation, was held at the InterContinental Hotel in Kabul with the participation of senior government officials, traders, and investors from both countries. The forum concluded successfully with the signing of 22 trade agreements (MOUs) across various sectors.
The event was attended by Mr. Jamshid Khodjayev, Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Uzbekistan; Mr. Nooruddin Azizi, Minister of Industry and Commerce of Afghanistan; and Mr. Sayed Karim Hashemi, Chairman of the Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Investment (ACCI). Also in attendance were the Ministers of Transport and Mining of Uzbekistan, the Governor of Fergana Region, more than 300 Uzbek traders and investors, members of the leadership of the Chambers of Commerce of Afghanistan and Uzbekistan, and more than 300 Afghan traders and investors.
In his address, Mr. Sayed Karim Hashemi, Chairman of ACCI, welcomed the distinguished guests and participants and emphasized the significance of organizing such a major event, describing it as a milestone in the history of economic relations between Afghanistan and Uzbekistan. He stated:
"This forum is not merely a business gathering; it is a symbol of our shared determination to expand economic cooperation and build a more prosperous future for the peoples of both countries. It reflects our mutual trust and our strong commitment to strengthening strategic relations."
Mr. Hashemi expressed his sincere appreciation for the unwavering support of the leadership of both countries in promoting economic and trade relations and highlighted the important role of these partnerships in achieving sustainable regional development.
Mr. Nooruddin Azizi, Minister of Industry and Commerce of Afghanistan, underlined the importance of the forum in promoting trade and economic growth and expressed hope that annual bilateral trade between Afghanistan and Uzbekistan would reach the long-term target of USD 5 billion. He also stressed the importance of facilitating transit procedures and developing logistics infrastructure along regional trade corridors.
Mr. Jamshid Khodjayev, Deputy Prime Minister of Uzbekistan, described the forum as an effective platform for strengthening the brotherly and commercial relations between the two countries. He encouraged Uzbek traders and investors to take advantage of the investment opportunities available in Afghanistan. He also announced the Uzbek Government's plans to establish logistics centers, reduce preferential tariffs, and invest in the energy, agriculture, and other sectors. Furthermore, he highlighted the importance of investing in Afghanistan's cotton sector and purchasing 100,000 tons of Afghan cotton annually.
Mr. Khairullo Bozorov, Governor of Fergana Region, introduced the investment opportunities and economic potential of Fergana Province and called for expanding bilateral cooperation in trade and investment between the two countries.
In addition to the above-mentioned speakers, the forum was attended on the Afghan side by the Deputy Chairmen, members of the Board of Directors, and members of the Executive Committee of the Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Investment. The Uzbek delegation included the Ministers of Transport and Mining, the Deputy Governor of Tashkent Province, the Ambassador of the Republic of Uzbekistan to Afghanistan, the Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Uzbekistan, as well as other senior government officials and members of the accompanying delegation.

The Permanent Exhibition of Uzbek Products was inaugurated in Kabul by Mr. Khairullo Bozorov, Governor of Fergana Region, and Mr. Arian Zalgai Azimi, Deputy Chairman for Investment of the Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Investment (ACCI).

Monday, 27 July 2026
Mr. Mohammad Qasim Amarkhil, Chairman of the Dried Fruit Exporters Association, met with the Chairman and Deputy Chairmen of the Board of Directors of the Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Investment (ACCI) at the Chamber's headquarters.
During the meeting, both sides discussed the challenges facing dried fruit exporters, as well as proposals and practical solutions to address existing export-related obstacles.
The ACCI leadership reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the Dried Fruit Exporters Association by facilitating the resolution of its challenges, improving visa issuance procedures, and promoting export development. The Chamber also pledged to coordinate with the relevant government authorities and undertake the necessary practical measures to help resolve the issues raised by the association.

Sunday, 26 July 2026
Mr. Sayed Karim Hashemi, Chairman of the Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Investment (ACCI), met with Mr. Jamshid Khodjayev, Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Uzbekistan, who arrived in Kabul leading a high-level delegation representing both the government and private sector of Uzbekistan.
Mr. Hashemi welcomed the Deputy Prime Minister and his accompanying delegation to Kabul and expressed his appreciation for the support of the President and leadership of Uzbekistan in promoting Afghanistan's economic, trade, and transit relations. He described Uzbekistan as one of Afghanistan's key economic partners.
The Chairman of ACCI stated that the exchange visits of the private sectors of both countries to Tashkent, Surkhandarya, Namangan, Fergana, Kabul, Balkh, Bamyan, Herat, and Nangarhar have played a significant role in expanding bilateral trade and investment. He also highlighted Uzbekistan's initiatives to introduce preferential tariffs, describing them as an important and effective step toward creating greater trade facilitation.
Mr. Jamshid Khodjayev, Deputy Prime Minister of Uzbekistan, expressed his gratitude for the warm reception extended by the Government and private sector of Afghanistan. He highly praised the efforts of Mr. Sayed Karim Hashemi, Chairman of ACCI, in establishing a framework for cooperation aimed at strengthening trade relations and increasing the volume of bilateral trade.
Mr. Khodjayev noted that bilateral trade between the two countries has exceeded USD 1 billion, compared to the previous year. He added, "We are moving closer to our ultimate target of USD 5 billion in bilateral trade. We are also working in practice to reduce preferential tariffs by up to 50% on Afghanistan's export goods in order to further increase trade exchanges."
During another part of the meeting, members of both delegations presented their views, proposals, and concerns regarding trade, transit, investment, and economic cooperation. These issues were discussed in detail and addressed by the relevant officials.
From the Afghan side, participants included: Mr. Arian Zalgai Azimi, Deputy Chairman for Investment; Mr. Enayatullah Sediqzai, Deputy Chairman for Services; Mr. Habibullah Omar, Deputy Chairman for Social and Cultural Affairs of the Board of Directors; Mr. Ahmad Nabi Zada, Chairman of the Afghanistan Chamber of Industries and Mines; Mr. Atiqullah Mominzada, Mr. Mahmood Jan Qadari, Mr. Younus Qazizada, Mr. Abdul Zahir Khan Achakzai Barakat, Mr. Najabat Haidari, and Mr. Obaidullah Hotak, members of the ACCI Board of Directors, as well as Mr. Mayel Khairkhwa, a prominent Afghan businessman.
Representing Uzbekistan were the Minister of Transport and his Deputy, the Governor of Tashkent Province, the Ambassador of Uzbekistan to Afghanistan, the Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Uzbekistan, along with other senior government officials and private sector representatives from Uzbekistan.

Monday, 27 July 2026
The leadership of the Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Investment (ACCI), including Mr. Arian Zalgai Azimi, Deputy Chairman for Investment, Mr. Abdul Nafi Barakzai, Deputy Chairman for Support of Domestic Production and Products, and Mr. Mujib Rahman Shirzad, Deputy Chairman for Strategic Relations, held a meeting with Mr. Allah Mohammad Ahmadzai, Chairman of the Kabul Fuel Station Association, together with members of the association and fuel station owners from several provinces, to discuss the challenges facing their sector.
At the outset of the meeting, Mr. Azimi welcomed the representatives of the Kabul Fuel Station Association and described ACCI as the common home of all traders and investors. He also referred to the meetings held by the Chamber's leadership during the previous week with the relevant government authorities regarding the issues facing fuel station owners.
Mr. Allah Mohammad Ahmadzai outlined the key challenges confronting fuel station operators in Kabul, particularly the high rental costs of fuel stations, more than 80 percent of which are located on government-owned land. He also raised concerns over fuel price adjustments made by the Commission for the Prevention of Hoarding and Control of Essential Commodity Prices, stating that these decisions are often made without taking actual market conditions into account.
He explained that when global fuel prices decline, the Commission immediately lowers domestic prices. However, when international fuel prices increase, the Commission often waits several days to a week before holding a meeting to revise prices, resulting in financial losses for fuel station owners.
Mr. Mohammad Yousuf, Deputy Chairman of the Fuel Station Association, Mr. Mohammad Amin, and other members of the association endorsed Mr. Ahmadzai's remarks and requested that the prices determined by the Commission remain valid for at least one week to provide greater market stability.
Members of the Kabul Fuel Station Association also requested the Chamber's leadership to coordinate with the Commission and other relevant government institutions in order to help resolve their challenges.
After listening to the concerns raised, Mr. Azimi assured the participants that ACCI would formally present their issues to the relevant authorities and make every effort to facilitate an appropriate solution.