Uzbekistan Plans 'Green Corridor' for Afghan Entrepreneurs to Boost Trade

Uzbekistan is actively working to expand cross-border trade and logistics with Afghanistan, aiming to significantly increase capacity and streamline movement. Government discussions on July 1, chaired by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, focused on enhancing the infrastructure connecting the two nations.

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There were only 4 corridors on our border with Afghanistan. Now the figure has been increased to 12. The capacity was 350−400 trucks, now it’s 1,000−1,200. Railcar traffic has increased from 250 to almost 500 railcars per day.

The number of border crossings with Afghanistan has jumped from four to twelve, with cargo capacity rising from 350-400 trucks to 1,000-1,200 trucks daily. Railcar traffic has also nearly doubled, from 250 to almost 500 railcars per day. Cargo transport via the river port has seen a similar surge, with 220,000 tons moved in the first six months of this year, nearing last year's total of over 250,000 tons.

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While over 250,000 tons of cargo were transported through the river port last year, over the first six months of this year, the figure akready was 220,000 tons, almost double that.

Plans are underway to establish a new logistics center on 50 hectares of land near the border. Additionally, Afghan entrepreneurs have requested a "green corridor," which would grant them the right to use Uzbekistan's international airlines. This proposal has been agreed upon, and a commission will be formed to implement it. The government is also exploring ways to facilitate the re-export of Afghanistan's abundant organic produce.

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This is the right to use our existing international airlines. This has been agreed upon, and a commission will now be established.

Termez district in Surkhandarya has been proposed as a "gateway to the Trans-Afghan Corridor," orienting it towards the China-Central Asia-Trans-Afghan Corridor-Pakistan transport route. This initiative builds on existing trade zones like the Airitom Free Zone, which has already facilitated Afghan goods reaching Europe.

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Afghanistan grows a great deal of produce, organic produce. We made proposals regarding the problems that arise when selling it.