The city of Termez in Uzbekistan hosted the grand opening of the International Trade Center (ITC), intended to become a key platform for developing trade relations in the Central Asian region, reports Eurasiatoday.ru.
The event attracted the attention of high-ranking officials from Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan, and Kazakhstan.
The President of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, emphasized the importance of strengthening good-neighborly relations with the countries of the region. The ITC "Termez" was created to foster a favorable business environment, optimize logistics, and simplify administrative procedures for entrepreneurs.
Uzbek authorities have high hopes for the new center.
It is forecasted that trade turnover between Uzbekistan and Afghanistan will double, from $647 million in 2021 to $1.2 billion annually. The ITC is expected to become the main supplier of goods to the Afghan market, providing up to 90% of the necessary range of products.
The center, covering an area of 260,000 square meters, offers a duty-free trade regime and a 10-day visa-free entry for foreign visitors. A four-star hotel and a medical center have been built on its premises.Special attention has been given to creating conditions for Afghan citizens, who will be able to use the center not only for trade but also for receiving educational, medical, and social services. This is a step towards deepening economic and humanitarian ties between neighboring countries.
The prospects for trade development are linked to the construction of the Termez-Kabul-Peshawar railway, which could open up new opportunities for the transit of goods to Pakistan with its population of 230 million.
The opening ceremony was attended by the Prime Minister of Uzbekistan, Abdulla Aripov, the Acting Prime Minister of Afghanistan, Abdul Ghani Baradar, the Deputy Prime Minister of Azerbaijan, Shahin Mustafayev, as well as representatives from Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan.
The Surkhandarya region already successfully operates the Termez Cargo Center, an international transport and logistics hub that ensures the delivery of humanitarian aid to Afghanistan. It is expected that the new ITC and the existing logistics center will effectively complement each other.
CentralasianLIGHT.org
August 30, 2024