DUSHANBE, July 16, 2008, Asia-Plus – State and prospects of further expansion of bilateral cooperation between Tajikistan and Kazakhstan were a focus of a meeting of President Emomali Rahmon with the new Kazakh Ambassador to Tajikistan, Mr. Abutalip Akhmetov, in Dushanbe on July 16.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting with President Rahmon, the Kazakh envoy noted that bilateral relations between Kazakhstan and Tajikistan are based on lasting friendship and brotherhood of the peoples of the two countries.
On the economic cooperation between the two countries, Akhmetov noted that trade between Kazakhstan and Tajikistan has tripled over the past five years. According to him, a two-way trade between the two countries in 2007 exceeded 300 million US dollars.
“Kazakhstan’s interest in investment in development of Tajikistan’s economy is evidence of the fact that economic cooperation between the two countries will expand in the future as well, Akhmetov said, adding that a joint investment fund of $100 million was established to promote further expansion of economic cooperation between the two countries.
The ambassador said that they had also discussed issues related to preparation of an official visit of Kazakh Prime Minister Karim Masimov to Tajikistan, which, according to him, will give a new impulse to development of bilateral relations.
“We also discussed preparations for holding of Days of Kazakh Culture in Tajikistan,” Akhmetov said.
He reminded that Kazakhstan had allotted Tajikistan a quota of 100 students for this academic year.
Asked about the possibility of Kazakhstan’s participation in hydroelectricity projects in Tajikistan, he said that his country is interested in participation in constructing hydropower plants in Tajikistan but details of this aspect of cooperation should be discussed by the businesspeople of the two countries.
