Business Journal

Mr. Alhaj Sayed Karim Hashemi, Chairman of the Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Investment(ACCI), met with some Chinese experts specializing in the construction of oil refineries.

At the beginning of the meeting, Mr. Hashemi expressed his satisfaction with the interest shown by Chinese investors in investing in Afghanistan and emphasized that the investment climate in the country is favorable. He stated that Chinese companies can invest in various economic sectors, particularly in the mining and energy sectors.

The Chairman of the Chamber added that the Chamber of Commerce is making efforts to establish a large joint-stock company for the purpose of building oil refineries in Afghanistan. In this regard, comprehensive discussions were held with Chinese experts who have extensive experience in oil refinery construction in China on the technical and structural aspects of the project.

At the conclusion of the meeting, the Chinese experts invited the Chairman of the Chamber to visit their company in China to hold detailed discussions and exchange views on the refinery’s plan and design.

Mr. Alhaj Sayed Karim Hashemi, Chairman of the Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Investment, met in his office with Mr. Nikolai Vyafgin, Head of the Economic Section of the Russian Embassy for Afghanistan, and his accompanying delegation. During the meeting, both sides discussed and exchanged views on expanding economic and commercial cooperation between Afghanistan and Russia.

 

Mr. Hashemi welcomed the officials of the Economic Section of the Russian Embassy and emphasized the development of trade relations between the two countries.

He further added that the Chamber of Commerce and Investment plans to establish a large petroleum refinery in Afghanistan on a joint-stock basis, which can increase the country’s oil production and refining capacity and create extensive employment opportunities.

He requested the officials of the Russian Embassy to encourage Russian engineers and specialists to cooperate technically in the construction of the refinery and also to introduce Afghan traders to major Russian petroleum factories.

The officials of the Economic Section of the Russian Embassy welcomed the views and proposals presented by the President of the Chamber and noted the readiness of Russian traders to engage in trade with Afghan businessmen. They assured that the Russian Embassy in Kabul will support the proposals of the Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Investment that contribute to strengthening bilateral cooperation.

The agreements were concluded at a trade connectivity conference attended by Afghanistan’s Minister of Industry and Commerce, Nooruddin Azizi, and the Governor of Uzbekistan’s Syrdarya region, Erkinjon Turdimov, along with senior officials and business leaders from both countries.

Azizi said there is strong political and economic momentum behind expanding bilateral ties, noting that trade between the two sides has grown at an unprecedented pace in recent years. He added that both countries aim to increase trade volumes in 2025 compared to 2024, pointing to significant untapped potential.

He also highlighted preferential trade arrangements

covering eight Afghan export items and six Uzbek products.

Turdimov underscored the long-standing historical and economic links between the two nations and noted the active role of Afghan traders in the Syrdarya region.

He called for deeper cooperation in industry and manufacturing, encouraged joint development projects, and outlined Uzbekistan’s investment opportunities, including access to European export markets.

The newly signed agreements span key sectors such as construction, food products, agriculture, furniture, textiles, and pharmaceuticals, reflecting growing private-sector confidence and signaling a new phase in Afghanistan–Uzbekistan economic partnership.

Granting 1 to 10-year residency in Afghanistan to investors The Afghanistan Emarat administration has approved a plan to grant foreign investors residency permits ranging from one to ten years in exchange for investment in Afghanistan. This decision was confirmed during a meeting of the Economic Commission chaired by Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar. According to the announcement of the Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs of the Afghanistan Emarat administration, a special committee has been tasked with determining the duration of investors' residency based on the volume of investment and within the framework of specific criteria.

BusinessUzbekistan–Afghanistan trade rises to $1.6 billion in 2025 Trade relations remain largely export-driven, with Uzbekistan supplying Afghanistan primarily with food products, energy resources, and industrial goods. Published 2 weeks ago on January 30, 2026By Ariana News facebook sharing button Sharetwitter sharing button Tweetemail sharing button Emailsharethis sharing button Sharewhatsapp sharing button Sharemessenger sharing buttonskype sharing buttonlinkedin sharing button Trade between Uzbekistan and Afghanistan rose sharply in 2025, reaching $1.6 billion, according to official data released by Uzbekistan’s National Statistics Committee. The figure represents a 45.5 percent increase from $1.1 billion in 2024 and an 84.4 percent rise compared with 2023, when bilateral trade stood at $867.5 million, highlighting rapid growth in economic exchanges between the two countries. Uzbekistan’s exports to Afghanistan accounted for the vast majority of the trade volume, totaling $1.5 billion, or 93.8 percent of overall bilateral turnover. Trade relations remain largely export-driven, with Uzbekistan supplying Afghanistan primarily with food products, energy resources, and industrial goods. The surge in trade comes as Uzbekistan’s total foreign trade turnover reached $81.2 billion in 2025, reflecting broader efforts to expand and diversify external economic ties. By the end of the reporting period, Uzbekistan maintained trade relations with 210 countries.

Contracts for the commencement of practical work on five major power generation projects with a total capacity of 845 megawatts were signed on Wednesday between Da Afghanistan Breshna Sherkat (DABS) and Azizi Energy. The signing ceremony was held at the Government Media and Information Center in the presence of Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar. Under the agreements, Azizi Energy will invest approximately $463 million in the projects, which include 100 megawatts of solar power in the Naghlu area of Kabul province, 100 megawatts of solar power in Barik Ab area of Parwan province, and 130 megawatts of solar power in Ghazni province. In addition, the company will construct 165 megawatts of coal-fired power generation in Takhar province and 350 megawatts in Baghlan province. Officials said the solar projects are expected to be completed within two years, while the coal-fired plants will be finalized within three years. The projects form part of a broader 10,000-megawatt energy investment plan aimed at strengthening domestic electricity production and reducing reliance on imports.

Uzbekistan has ratified an international agreement to prepare a feasibility study for the Naybabad–Kharlachi section of the Trans-Afghan Railway, formalizing its participation in the project. President Shavkat Mirziyoyev signed a decree on February 4 approving the agreement. The framework agreement involves the transport ministries of Uzbekistan, Afghanistan and Pakistan and provides for joint work on a feasibility study for the proposed railway line between Naybabad and Kharlachi. The section forms part of the wider Trans-Afghan Railway project aimed at strengthening transport links between Central and South Asia. Under the decree, Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Transport has been designated as the competent authority responsible for implementing the agreement. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been tasked with notifying Kabul and Islamabad that Uzbekistan has completed the internal procedures required for the agreement to enter into force. The agreement builds on a tripartite document signed on July 17, 2025, which outlined cooperation on preparing a feasibility study for the Termez–Kharlachi railway corridor.

A Turkish electrical equipment company has expressed strong interest in investing in Afghanistan’s hydropower sector, focusing on the installation of new-technology turbines and the rehabilitation of existing power generation facilities, according to Da Afghanistan Breshna Sherkat (DABS). DABS Chief Executive Officer, Abdul Haq Hamkar, met with Mr. Günay Küsay, a senior engineer and representative of Turkey’s Marbeyaz company, to discuss potential cooperation in hydropower development, modernization of equipment, and the installation of advanced electricity generation systems. During the meeting, Hamkar welcomed the Turkish delegation and said that all necessary facilities and incentives have been put in place to encourage both domestic and foreign investment in Afghanistan’s electricity and electrical equipment production sectors. He emphasized that investors are free to invest across relevant fields within the energy sector. Mr. Küsay praised the leadership of DABS and said Marbeyaz is keen to invest in electricity generation from Afghanistan’s water resources, rehabilitate existing hydropower turbines, install modern high-capacity turbines, and contribute to strengthening the technical capacity of local staff. At the end of the meeting, both sides agreed to hold joint technical sessions between DABS and Marbeyaz experts. Technical assessments are also planned in various provinces to evaluate the potential for increased electricity generation from existing water resources. DABS said that improved security, economic stability, and transparent governance have helped create a more favorable environment for international companies to invest in Afghanistan’s power generation and electrical equipment production sectors.