DUSHANBE, February 12, Asia-Plus — Kazakhstan is interested in participation in investment projects being implemented in Tajikistan, Kazakhstan’s Ambassador to Tajikistan Yerlan Abildayev remarked at a briefing in Dushanbe on February 11.
According to him, Kazakhstan is, in particular, interested in participation in the project aimed at completing the construction of the Roghun hydroelectric power station (HPS) in Tajikistan.
“Tajikistan has informed Kazakhstan of its intention to hold an international tender and I think Kazakhstan would be willing to place a bid in the tender,” the ambassador said.
Tajikistan is currently experiencing an acute shortage of electrical power and “Kazakhstan intends to participate in a number of energy projects here,” Abildayev said.
He further added that many Kazakh companies now work in Tajikistan. “Tajik-Kazakh joint venture Kitaka is developing coalfields in Tajikistan — Ziddi in the Varzob district and Nazarayloq in the Rasht district, “ the ambassador said, noting that Kazakhstan plans to invest $20 million in development of Tajikistan’s cola industry and $100 million in construction of heat and power plants.
According to Abildayev, a two-way trade between Tajikistan and Kazakhstan last year valued at $343.2 million. This consisted of Tajikistan’s exports to Kazakhstan estimated at $24 million and Tajikistan’s imports from Kazakhstan India worth $319.2 million. The main shares of Tajikistan’s exports to Kazakhstan are aluminum and cotton.
