July 21 this year was marked by the meeting of the Sub-Committee for Economy under the trilateral format of cooperation 'Uzbekistan-USA-Afghanistan' via video-conferencing.

The delegations included following representatives: from the USA - the US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Central and South Asia Affairs, J. Henick, the US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Central and South Asia Affairs, N. Jackson, representatives of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the US International Finance Corporation, the Commercial Law Development Program (CLDP) and the Special American Business Internship Training Program (SABIT) under the US Department of Commerce, the US Delegation to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization; the Afghan side - Deputy Foreign Minister for Economic Cooperation, M. Nab, Deputy Minister of Industry and Commerce of Afghanistan A. Malikiyar; the Uzbek side - First Deputy Minister of Investment and Foreign Trade of Uzbekistan L. Kudratov, heads of the ministries of foreign affairs, transport, energy, sectoral departments, and associations.

The agenda provided the discussion of a wide range of issues, including strengthening of interrelationship and expansion of economic cooperation, interaction in the development of energy and transport infrastructure, in cross border trading, agriculture, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, creation of cross-boundary value chains, expansion of the rights and opportunities of women, as well as the establishment of cooperation between the private business of the three countries.

During the meeting, the attendees noted that the trilateral format of cooperation means the new stage in the development of trade and economic partnership between the member-countries, and is intended to become an effective tool to solve common concerns.

The attendees paid particular attention to the trade and investment partnership. The parties emphasized significant prospects for cooperation in energy, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, and agriculture. The Uzbek side declared its willingness to continue systematic work to further increase the number of joint investment projects and mutual trade, as well as to implement regional projects for the development of energy and transport infrastructure.

One of the priority initiatives within the new format was the creation of an Investment Fund supported by the US side, which would provide financing for private sector projects both in Uzbekistan and in the Central Asia plus Afghanistan.

The parties expressed their interest in the development of transport communications in the region and, in particular, the trans-Afghan corridor in order to reanimate regional transportation and ensure mutual free access to promising markets.

They agreed to closely cooperate with the Working Group on the expansion of economic rights and opportunities of women, as well as under the Council on the Trade and Investment Framework Agreement between the United States and Central Asia (TIFA).

The attendees particularly focused on the strengthening of interaction of business communities. They discussed the prospects to organize a trilateral Business Forum 'Uzbekistan - USA - Afghanistan' involving the business circles of the three countries.

The meeting resulted in agreement on the development of a joint strategy for the operation and generation of effective mechanisms for the joint projects and initiatives. At the conclusion of the event, Uzbekistan again emphasized its interest in the development of cooperation under this format, as well as expressed its gratitude to the American and Afghan sides for their assistance in further strengthening of stability and security in the region.