A new economic corridor has been created between Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, China and Kyrgyzstan.

At the end of a two-day meeting in Tashkent, on Friday 9th September, representatives of the railways of Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, China and Kyrgyzstan signed the agreement according to which a new economic corridor was created between these countries. This economic corridor, which has been signed on a trial basis for a period of three months is predicated on the idea that containerized commercial goods from China will first come to Kyrgyzstan and then to Afghanistan's Balkh province via Uzbekistan and Afghanistan railways. Also, Afghanistan's products and transit will reach China in a few days by taking advantage of this economic corridor. This economic corridor is a combination of multi-modal transportation systems, some parts of which will be transported by trucks, but most of them will be transported by railways.

With the implementation of this economic corridor, the commercial commodities that previously took two months to reach the country by road from China will now reach the country in two weeks.

Also, along with the increase in governmental revenue, the prices of commercial goods will be reduced and employment opportunities will be provided to some citizens. And, according to the agreement, a significant discount is implemented on the tariff of commercial goods.

It should be noted that host of the ceremony was the country of Uzbekistan, and from the Afghan side, Mullah Bakhtur Rahman Sharafat, CEO & General Director of Afghanistan Railway Administration, and Maulvi Khan Mohammad Mazhabi, the financial and administrative assistant, were participants. The meeting lasted for two days and on Friday the agreement was signed.

ARA

Press Department

10 September 2022