DUSHANBE, January 11, Asia-Plus — To establish free economic zones (FEZs) Tajikistan has to remove many obstacles and improve its legislation, Shuhratjon Rahmatulloyev, head of the entrepreneurship support directorate of the State Committee for Investment and Management of State-owned Property, remarked at a roundtable meeting that was held in Dushanbe on January 11 to discuss issues related to creation of FEZs in the country.
He also pointed to the necessity of completing work on designating areas where the zones would be created.
“Besides, it is necessary to pay special attention to advertising work and attracting investors to work in those areas. It is a big work, which requires considerable financial expenses and consolidation of efforts of many ministries, organizations and media to tell foreign investors what benefits are in store for them,” Rahmatulloyev said.
According to him, the concept of creation of FEZs in Tajikistan has not yet been finalized. “The present law, adopted in 2005 already, is based on a model law worked out by the CIS Parliamentary Council in the 1990s,” said Rahmatulloyev, “Many countries that were working under this law have faced many problems concerning application of it and realized the necessity of making amendments to it.”.
The RT Law “On Free Economic Zones” should determine more precisely conditions of liquidation of FEZs and make mention of powers of FEZ administration.
Besides, it is also necessary to decide on an authorized body. “It can be any agency,” said Rahmatulloyev, “In my opinion, it is necessary because the strategy of further development of FEZs should not be determined by their administrations, because in this case the strategy will reflect interests of only administration, while FEZs should work for economy of the whole country.
Moreover, it is necessary to improve work of currency market and commodity exchange in the country as well as enlist the services of foreign independent companies dealing with property assessment issues.
In the meantime, representative from the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade (MoEDT) noted that the ministry had received proposals on creating FEZs in Khatlon’s Qumsangir and Danghara districts in the territory of 80 ha, as well as in Khujand, Sughd province (60 ha) and Gorno Badakhshan. “As far as Gorno Badakhshan is concerned, three areas for cross-border trade currently functioning in the region may be viewed as precursors to FEZs,” he said.
