BAKU, Azerbaijan, Dec. 7
By Fakhri Vakilov-Trend:
Afghanistan plans to increase cargo transit by railway through Uzbekistan, as was announced after negotiations in Tashkent between representatives of the Uzbekistan Railways and delegation representing business community of Afghanistan, led by Chairman of International Chamber of Commerce of Afghanistan Mayel Aqa Khairkhah, Trend reports citing Uzbekistan Railways’ press service.
The Afghan delegation stressed that the business community of Afghanistan is ready to increase the transportation of oil and oil products.
As noted during the talks, Uzbekistan Railways is actively involved and fully cooperates in increasing the volume of goods transported by rail between Uzbekistan and Afghanistan, and, in particular, provides significant discounts for the transit of Afghan export cargo through Uzbekistan.
The parties also noted the potential of Afghan Hairaton logistics center and Uzbek Termiz kargo export center, which is capable of simultaneously accepting up to 300 trucks and has access railway lines and warehouses for storing containers.
From the beginning of 2019 until today, 252 tons of raisins have already been shipped from Afghanistan (in transit through Uzbekistan) to Russia, 130 tons of raisins to Kazakhstan, and 1,066 tons of talc to China. In total, about 1,628 tons of Afghan economy goods were transported during this period.
The day before, on December 6, a freight train consisting of two wagons loaded with 100 tons of tangerines, left the station from Hairaton to Chimkent (Kazakhstan).
In September this year, the first container train was sent from Afghanistan to China, and more than 20 container trains were transported to Afghanistan since then. The next container train is being prepared for shipment.
Representatives of the Uzbekistan railway company expressed their readiness to consider the proposals for the further development of cooperation.
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