A delegation led by Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, the Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs, comprising acting ministers from various ministries and representatives from sectoral institutions, has returned to Afghanistan following a two-day visit to Uzbekistan. The visit involved significant discussions and resulted in key agreements.
According to a statement from the Economic Affairs Office, the Afghan delegation held joint meetings with Uzbekistan’s Prime Minister and senior officials from various ministries. The Uzbek side expressed readiness to initiate several projects in Afghanistan, particularly in agriculture, electricity, transportation, and railway development.
The statement further noted that, following discussions, the cost of a 500-kilovolt power transmission project, initially estimated at $252 million, has been reduced to $22 million. Additionally, Uzbekistan will soon commence preliminary studies at its own expense on extending the railway line from Hairatan to Herat. Furthermore, restrictions on the export of Afghan agricultural products to Uzbekistan will be lifted.
The Afghan delegation also discussed electricity imports from Uzbekistan, with agreements in place to increase the electricity supply to Afghanistan next year while reducing tariffs.
