BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 27. Uzbekistan and
Afghanistan agreed to step up efforts to improve cross-border road
transport and reduce fees imposed on Uzbek freight carriers during
talks between the two countries' transport ministers in Kabul.
This was reflected in the statement by the Ministry of Transport
of Uzbekistan.
Uzbek Transport Minister Ilkhom Makhkamov met with Afghanistan's
Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation Mohammad Fazil Mazlum on
July 26 to discuss expanding transport and transit cooperation.
According to the ministry, the sides reviewed measures to
facilitate bilateral road freight transport, create more favorable
conditions for national carriers and optimize charges levied on
Uzbek transport operators in Afghanistan.
The two countries agreed to convene the next meeting of their
interagency working group on transport fees before Aug. 10 to
discuss reducing the charges and aligning them on a reciprocal
basis.
"The sides also agreed to hold a separate meeting in the near
future with representatives of relevant Afghan government agencies
to address operational issues affecting international freight
carriers from both countries." the statement said.
Uzbekistan has been seeking to deepen transport links with
Afghanistan as part of its broader strategy to expand regional
connectivity and trade routes. Improved road transport conditions
are expected to facilitate cross-border freight traffic and
strengthen logistics links between the two neighboring
countries.
