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Airitom Becomes a New Hub of Cross-Border Trade – Results of CERR Study



The Center for Economic Research and Reforms (CERR) has conducted a comprehensive assessment of the Airitom Free Trade Zone’s operations. The analysis shows growing demand for expanded services and 24-hour operations.

Scale and Infrastructure of the Project

The Airitom Free Trade Zone, opened in August 2024 in the city of Termez, has become one of the largest projects aimed at developing cross-border trade in Central Asia, strengthening Uzbekistan’s position as a regional trade and logistics hub.

The total area of the zone covers 26 hectares, with 164.2 thousand square meters occupied by infrastructure facilities. It includes a hotel, medical clinic, business school, restaurants, production facilities, and a logistics complex. The project is expected to create 3,000 jobs, with an annual export volume of $1.2 billion and up to 1.4 million visitors per year.

The trade zone allows visa-free entry for Afghan citizens, thereby boosting cross-border trade and expanding economic ties between the two countries.

Since its launch, over 740,000 people have visited Airitom, including 400,000 Afghan citizens. The highest demand has been for hotel and medical services. For example, the Hilton Garden Inn (190 rooms, 3 stars) has hosted more than 9,000 guests, while the Akfa Medline Multidisciplinary Clinic, designed to serve up to 46,000 patients annually, has already provided services to over 76,000 people, about 80% of whom are Afghan citizens.

Trade activity shows a positive trend: out of 490 retail spaces, 218 stores are currently in operation. Goods worth $187 million have been exported to Afghanistan through the zone.

Given the importance of the project, CERR conducted surveys among entrepreneurs and visitors of the Airitom Trade Zone. The results identified key trends in trade activity and priority directions for further development.

Results of the Entrepreneur Survey in the Airitom Trade Zone

According to the survey, more than 70% of respondents have been conducting business in the center since its opening. Turnover analysis showed that 67% of businesses have an annual trade volume not exceeding 1 billion UZS (about $78,000), while nearly 29% report a volume between 3–5 billion UZS ($235,000–$390,000).

The trade zone occupies 57,000 square meters, featuring three-story commercial and service buildings. Rental prices range from $2.6 to $8.3 per square meter, depending on location (basement, first or second floor). Almost half of the respondents (48%) described the current rental rates as high.

Trade activity demonstrates moderate customer flow: around 43% of shops serve an average of 30 customers per day, while nearly 24% report 100–150 visitors daily. Over half of the entrepreneurs (52%) stated that their main clients are Afghan citizens.

In addition to commercial activities, the zone’s infrastructure has created additional employment opportunities. More than 1,000 local residents and about 140 Afghan citizens have been employed in restaurants, shops, production and logistics facilities, the clinic, hotel, and hostel.


Results of the Customer Survey in the Airitom Trade Zone

According to the customer survey, the overwhelming majority (91%) visited the trade center primarily to purchase food products. Nearly 48% came for clothing38% for household appliances, and 14% for pharmaceutical products. Around 71% of respondents noted that prices for goods and services in the zone are somewhat lower than in other markets.

At the same time, visitor frequency remains irregular—about 29% of customers visit the zone only once a month. Analysis of transportation accessibility showed that 38% of customers use public transport, while 43% said there is no regular transport connection to the trade zone.

Directions for Further Development

The analysis confirms strong interest and significant growth potential for the Airitom Trade Zone. However, several priorities for improvement were identified.

For Afghan citizens, who make up the majority of clients, speeding up border and customs procedures remains a key issue—71% consider the process time-consuming.

A high demand for expanded service availability was expressed by 95% of visitors, who supported the introduction of round-the-clock operations for trade facilities.

Hotel services also require adjustment of pricing policies, as stated by over two-thirds (71%) of respondents. In addition, a large share of Afghan visitors expressed interest in expanding the range of educational (52%)domestic (29%), and pharmaceutical (29%) services.

Thus, the demand for services in the center remains high, and further development of infrastructure and service offerings will strengthen Airitom’s role as a key hub of cross-border trade and cooperation.

Public Relations Department, CERR



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