The Termez-Hayraton Bridge Has Reopened for Passenger Traffic on the Uzbek-Afghan Border.
After a four-year hiatus, passenger traffic across the Uzbek-Afghan border has been fully restored via the strategically important Termez-Hayraton Bridge. The reopening of checkpoints for citizens marks a significant simplification of logistics for businesses and residents of the region.
According to the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Uzbekistan, passengers can now travel directly and safely between the two countries. Visa requirements remain unchanged.
Since June 2021, amid the pandemic and the changing political situation in Afghanistan, when the Taliban came to power, the Termez-Hayraton Bridge has been open only to freight traffic, creating significant challenges for businesses and individuals.
To reach Mazar-i-Sharif (located just 75 km from Termez, or about an hour's drive), entrepreneurs had to make a lengthy, nearly 24-hour detour through Tajikistan. Now these restrictions have been lifted, and direct travel has been restored, which is critical for the efficiency of regional trade.
The restoration of full border crossing procedures is seen as a powerful incentive for exporting companies. Uzbek exports to Afghanistan have shown steady growth in recent years, and the opening of a direct route creates all the conditions for achieving the ambitious goal of increasing export volumes to $2.5 billion by 2026.
The Uzbek government is offering companies a number of unprecedented incentives to actively enter the Afghan market. Entrepreneurs opening warehouses in Hairatan or Mazar-i-Sharif will receive a 100% reimbursement for their maintenance costs. Advertising costs for products in all 34 Afghan provinces will be fully reimbursed.
The Chamber of Commerce and Industry urged entrepreneurs to take advantage of this opportunity, noting: "The Afghan market has 50 million consumers, is characterized by high demand and low competition. This is a unique opportunity that should not be missed."
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