DUSHANBE, December 1, 2015, Asia-Plus — The 4th conference to discuss cooperation between the regions of Tajikistan and Russia concluded in Dushanbe on December 1.
During two days, the conference participants discussed ways to expand direct cooperation between the regions of the two countries.
A special attention was paid to the supply of Tajikistan’s fruits and vegetables to the Russia Federation against the backdrop of the current tensions between Russia and Turkey.
“Kyrgyzstan has joined the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) and Tajikistan now has common border with this economic union, in which Russia takes an active part. There is an opportunity to expand cross-border cooperation,” Deputy Minister of Economic Development of Russia, Alexander Tsibulsky said.
According to him, about 60 federal subjects of Russia now have direct economic ties with Tajikistan and Russia accounts for 30 percent of foreign investment in Tajikistan.
“The time has come to discuss the issue of establishment of the Russia-Tajikistan Business Council,” Russian official noted.
“Turkey’s contracting companies have occupied top ranking in Russia after imposition of sanctions on Western goods. They have used the opportunities. Russia now waits for proposals from other suppliers,” said Director of Russia’s Institute of Actual Economics Nikita Isayev, who was the conference moderator.
Speaking at the conference, Tajik Minister of Economic Development and Trade Nematullo Hikmatullozoda noted that there was considerable room for expansion of economic ties between the two countries.
Russian Ambassador to Tajikistan Igor Lyakin-Frolov, for his part, proposed to review agreements and memorandums that had been signed between Russia and Tajikistan in recent years.
“Many of these documents have not been ratified and remained just on paper,” Russian diplomat noted.
He also drew attention of those present to problems Russian investors, in particular cellular communications companies, have faced in Tajikistan.
“We expect more predictability in the field of taxation; activity of Russian businesspeople in Tajikistan’s depends on this,” Lyakin-Frolov stressed.
