The Kazakh government has requested Uzbekistan to consider providing tariff preferences for transit transportation by rail to Afghanistan. The request was made during a meeting between the working groups of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, led by deputy heads of government, held in Astana, as reported by the Kazakh government's press service.
The discussion focused on the possibility of reducing tariffs for the transit of Kazakh flour products through Uzbekistan's territory. The volume of flour exports from Kazakhstan to Afghanistan via Uzbekistan reached a historical peak of 1.209 million tons in 2017.
However, the figures significantly declined in subsequent years, with 536 thousand tons in 2021, 816 thousand tons in 2022, and only 275 thousand tons in the first half of the current year.
Considering Kazakhstan's significant potential for exporting flour to Afghanistan, the Kazakh side requested that Uzbekistan grant tariff preferences for transit transportation by rail through its territory to Afghanistan. In response, both parties agreed to establish a joint expert working group to discuss favorable tariff conditions for rail transportation and develop specific proposals.
The goal of this request is to facilitate the transportation of Kazakh flour products to Afghanistan and support trade between the two countries.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
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Based on materials from TASS