A Free Trade Zone “Termez International Trade Center” has been commissioned on the border of Uzbekistan and Afghanistan in Termez district of Surkhandarya region.

The official ceremony was attended by government officials from Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan, as well as large manufacturers, entrepreneurs, labor veterans, and youth.

It was emphasized that in recent years, Uzbekistan, at the initiative of the Head of state, has been developing cooperation with countries of the world in the socio-economic, cultural, trade, and investment spheres. It was noted that neighboring Afghanistan is also one of the close partners of Surkhandarya region.

Uzbekistan has created favorable conditions for doing business with Afghan entrepreneurs. In particular, more than 210 enterprises with the participation of Afghan businesspeople operate in Surkhan Oasis alone. Last year, the region’s foreign trade turnover with Afghanistan amounted to almost $58 million, tripling compared to 2022.

The Free Trade Zone “Termez International Trade Center”, commissioned on the eve of the 33rd anniversary of the country’s independence, was also created directly on the initiative of the Head of state.

The Free Trade Zone, which has no alternative in Central Asia, is built on ​​36 hectares. The $70 million project will be essential in developing trade and export of industrial and consumer goods produced by entrepreneurs from Afghanistan, Pakistan, and other countries. Experts say that 1.5 million people will visit the complex annually, and the annual sales volume will amount to $1 billion 200 million.

As part of the privileges created in the Free Trade Zone, all citizens of foreign countries can stay in the center and leave Uzbekistan for 15 days without an entry visa. A multi-currency system has been introduced: Uzbek sums, US dollars, euros, Russian rubles, and yuan are circulated here. All goods arriving on the center’s territory are placed and released without customs duties. Banks, notary offices, and other regional public service centers have been established. The complex also includes the Hilton Garden Inn hotel, the modern Akfa Medline medical complex, the Central Asia University business school, a large shopping center, a restaurant, a hostel, a large logistics center, and manufacturing plants. A daily bus service has been established from Mazar-i-Sharif for those arriving from Afghanistan.

The International Trade Center is considered an essential part of the Karachi-Termez-Tashkent-Kazakhstan-Russia transport corridor and provides access to the ports of the Indian Ocean. 

The large complex has created conditions for receiving, storing, and processing products based on modern technologies and quick clearance of goods using the “Single Window” principle.

At the Akfa Medline Ayritom clinic, 315 qualified doctors and other medical specialists provide quality services in the radiology, dentistry, physiotherapy, and outpatient departments.

More than 500 Afghan entrepreneurs will be able to improve their skills in trade and production at training courses organized at the Central Asia University business school. All students will be provided with a dormitory with the necessary amenities.

The shopping center will soon begin producing doors and frames “Imzo” with a projected cost of $4.5 million. As a result of implementing the new project, the budget will receive 150 million UZS per year, employing 25 people. Also, the jewelry and semi-finished jewelry manufacturing enterprise Termez Gold Production and the lighting equipment manufacturing enterprise City-Electric Group will begin operating. 

At the opening of the trade zone, demonstrating our centuries-old good-neighborly and friendly relations, the participants got acquainted with the modern center.

The event was attended by Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Azerbaijan Shahin Mustafayev, Deputy Minister of Economy and Commerce of the Kyrgyz Republic Nazarbek Malaev, Deputy Minister of Trade and Integration of the Republic of Kazakhstan Kairat Torebayev, and others.

The Prime Minister of the Republic of Uzbekistan Abdulla Aripov and the Acting Prime Minister of Afghanistan Abdul Ghani Baradar addressed the event.

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Kholmumin Matraimov, UzA