BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 25. Today,
Uzbekistan and Afghanistan discussed expanding cooperation in
technical regulation and removing technical barriers to trade
during a meeting in the Termez International Free Economic
Zone.
This was reflected in the statement by the
Uzsanoatqurilishmateriallari, following a meeting between
representatives of Uzbekistan’s Agency for Technical Regulation,
Ministry of Transport and Uzsanoatqurilishmateriallari Association,
as well as officials from Afghanistan’s National Standards and
Quality Authority (ASQA).
The sides discussed aligning national standards with
international standards and establishing cooperation on the
metrological verification of measuring instruments used in mining,
manufacturing and processing, energy, utilities, health care and
other sectors.
“The exchange of experience and harmonization of approaches in
technical regulation, standardization and metrology are important
areas of cooperation between Uzbekistan and Afghanistan,” the
statement said.
Moreover, the meeting focused on sharing practical experience
and coordinating approaches in technical regulation, with the sides
noting the importance of such cooperation for facilitating trade
between the two countries.
Technical standards and conformity assessment procedures can
affect the movement of goods across borders by determining whether
products meet regulatory and quality requirements in destination
markets. Greater alignment of standards and improved cooperation
between relevant authorities can help reduce duplication in testing
and certification processes.
The meeting concluded with an agreement to continue cooperation
in the discussed areas, coordinate practical measures and further
develop bilateral cooperation between Uzbekistan and Afghanistan in
technical regulation.
Additionally, the parties agreed to maintain dialogue and
exchange information as they work to implement the initiatives
discussed at the meeting.
