Uzbekistan Aims to Increase Pharmaceutical Exports to Afghanistan, Targeting $50M by Year-End
Uzbekistan and Afghanistan Strengthen Pharmaceutical Export Cooperation
Uzbekistan’s pharmaceutical companies are set to expand their presence in the Afghan market, with the potential for exports to reach over $50 million by the end of 2025. This increase in trade between the two countries comes as Afghanistan expresses its commitment to streamlining the registration process for pharmaceutical products in Kabul, with the goal of reducing the timeline from six months to just one month.
The Uzbek Chamber of Commerce and Industry revealed that discussions surrounding the facilitation of Uzbek pharmaceutical exports to Afghanistan took place during a meeting between a delegation led by Chairman Davron Vakhabov and Afghan Minister of Public Health, Mawlawi Noor Jalal Jalali.
During the meeting, it was highlighted that Uzbek pharmaceutical companies are in a favorable position to capitalize on the growing demand for their products in Afghanistan, with expectations of surpassing the $50 million mark in exports by the end of 2025. Jalali also put forward proposals for cooperation in the field of dental care, including the training of young Afghan dental specialists in Termiz and the establishment of branch clinics across Afghanistan to expand dental services for the population.
In addition to these initiatives, Jalali voiced his support for reducing the registration period for pharmaceutical products and introducing a simplified import authorization process for medicines entering Afghanistan. These measures are aimed at facilitating the timely availability of essential medications to meet the healthcare needs of the Afghan population.
The cooperation between Uzbekistan and Afghanistan in the pharmaceutical sector comes on the heels of recent high-level meetings between the two countries. In February, Uzbek Prime Minister Abdulla Aripov and Afghanistan’s Acting Deputy Prime Minister Abdul Ghani Baradar agreed to enhance trade relations, attract investments in key sectors such as gas extraction and cement production, and reduce customs duties on select products. The mutual efforts to strengthen economic cooperation between Uzbekistan and Afghanistan signal a promising future for bilateral relations in the pharmaceutical and other sectors.
