LONDON, July 7. /Dunyo IA/.   Uzbekistan and Afghanistan have agreed to boost bilateral trade, which reached 550 million dollars within the first four months of 2026, reports Dunyo IA correspondent, citing with reference to the British portal “London Post”.

Parties signed a Preferential Trade Agreement and a Program of Cooperation in Trade, Economic and Industrial Sectors for 2025–2026, following negotiations held on the sidelines of the 5^th Tashkent International Investment Forum.

According to the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Uzbekistan, food products, including vegetable oil, eggs, and live poultry, constitute the primary share of exports to Afghanistan. Concurrently, shipments of vegetable oil increased from 2 million dollars in January to 10 million dollars in April.

It is noted that Afghanistan is becoming one of the fastest-growing markets for Uzbek exporters, with business activity consistently supported by regular trade missions to Kabul and Mazar-i-Sharif.

A pivotal element of this cooperation remains the “Termez” International Trade Center, which opened in August 2024. It is envisioned as a premier platform for cross-border trade, logistics, and the facilitation of trade flows between Central and South Asia.

Project is strategically aimed at reducing trade barriers, developing logistics infrastructure, and expanding direct business-to-business contacts between the two nations.

Experts note that the development of the Termez Center enhances Uzbekistan's transit role and unlocks access to the markets of the Middle East and South Asia.

Concurrently, risks persist relative to the volatile situation in Afghanistan, infrastructure deficits, and international restrictions. Nevertheless, the project is viewed as a cornerstone for the formation of a regional trade hub and the expansion of economic integration.