Afghan and Uzbek business representatives have announced a digital payment platform intended to make cross-border trade settlements more secure, Uzbekistan's state news agency Dunyo reported on September 22.
The platform, called UzEx, was announced during a business meeting in Mazar-i-Sharif between producers from Balkh and an Uzbek delegation of about 80 private-sector representatives.
According to Dunyo, Mohammad Ibrahim Ghazanfar, head of the Balkh Chamber of Commerce and Investment, said the platform is being developed in cooperation with Ghazanfar Bank. Its purpose is to facilitate secure transfers of funds to Uzbekistan after goods have been delivered to the port of Hairatan.
The meeting also covered exports, investment and expansion of bilateral trade. Uzbek products were presented to Afghan businesses, while representatives from both sides emphasised the value of direct commercial contacts.
The initiative is an emerging trade-payment mechanism rather than a fully documented nationwide financial system. The initial report does not provide a complete regulatory framework, transaction limits, settlement currencies or a full operational timetable.
Those details will be important in determining how widely the platform can be used and how it fits within banking and sanctions compliance requirements.