BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 4. Afghan business
leaders are exploring opportunities to expand trade and financial
cooperation with Uzbekistan’s Namangan region, including textile
imports and the potential opening of Uzbekistan’s first Islamic
bank in the region.


This was reflected in the statement by the Namangan regional
administration, following a visit of a delegation led by Muhammad
Ibrahim Ghazanfar, chairman of the Balkh Chamber of Commerce and
Industry and founder of Ghazanfar Group, and Muhammad Ismail
Ghazanfar, chairman of Ghazanfar Bank to Namangan to explore
opportunities for cooperation with local businesses.


Namangan Region Governor Shavkatjon Abdurazzoqov received the
Afghan business representatives for talks.


The meeting highlighted the strengthening of relations between
Uzbekistan and Afghanistan in recent years, particularly growing
business-to-business ties, according to the regional
administration.


The Afghan businessmen expressed interest in importing textile
products from Namangan, including various types of fabrics and
textiles, to Afghanistan.


The sides also exchanged views on the possibility of opening
Uzbekistan’s first Islamic bank in Namangan.







Such a bank could provide new financing opportunities for
businesses and support the development of trade and investment
links between companies in Uzbekistan and Afghanistan. It could
also create an additional platform for financial cooperation
between businesses in the two countries.


The participation of representatives from Ghazanfar Group and
Ghazanfar Bank in the talks reflects interest from Afghan
businesses in expanding commercial ties with Uzbekistan beyond
traditional trade.


The meeting also focused on strengthening direct contacts
between entrepreneurs from Namangan and Balkh, with the sides
agreeing to further develop business cooperation and pursue
mutually beneficial opportunities.


The talks come as Uzbekistan continues to expand economic
engagement with neighboring Afghanistan, with trade, logistics and
business ties forming an important part of efforts to promote
regional economic connectivity.


"At the end of the dialogue, it was agreed to further strengthen
cooperation between entrepreneurs from the two regions," the
statement said.