(MENAFN- Trend News Agency) TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, November 19. Entrepreneurs hailing from Uzbekistan and Afghanistan have put pen to paper on preliminary agreements that amount to a whopping $36 million, Trend reports via the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Uzbekistan.

The agreements were reached during a working visit by a delegation of around 100 Uzbek business representatives, organized by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Uzbekistan, to the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan from November 17 through 23.

Moreover, on November 18, in Kabul, a business meeting of Afghan and foreign private sector representatives was held as part of the “Imam Abu Hanifa-4th National and International Exhibition and Trade Fair.”

During the meeting, participants discussed cooperation in sectors including food processing, construction materials, pharmaceuticals, textiles, logistics, energy, and consumer electronics.

Negotiations were conducted in a B2B format, focusing on expanding trade links, developing joint projects, promoting investment initiatives, and increasing export potential in the Afghan market.

In addition, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Uzbekistan and the Chamber of Commerce and Investment of Afghanistan signed a memorandum of cooperation, which provides for the establishment of “Trade Houses” in both countries and the opening of representative offices of the chambers.

Meanwhile, Uzbekistan's trade turnover with Afghanistan reached $862.2 million from January through July 2025, reflecting a 51 percent increase compared to the same period in 2024 ($571 million) and nearly doubling compared to 2023 ($470.7 million).

It is noteworthy that significant foreign investors in Afghanistan are China, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and the United Arab Emirates, mostly concentrating on natural resources such as oil and gas. Other notable investors, especially in sectors like telecommunications, include corporations like Roshan. Nonetheless, the total Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) has markedly decreased in recent years, complicating efforts to attract new, substantial investments.

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