DUSHANBE, October 24, Asia-Plus — On October 21 and 22, 2007, an international trade fair was held in Kunduz, Afghanistan in which entrepreneurs from Afghanistan and Tajikistan displayed a wide array of goods as part of a project to develop cross-border trade between the two countries, press release issued by the US Embassy in Dushanbe said.
The trade fair was organized by the NGO Sapeda, which, as part of the aforementioned project, has also been working to create mechanisms for cross-border cooperation in business and trade between Afghanistan and Tajikistan and to minimize the technical and administrative barriers to trade between the two countries.
“The push to cooperation was a bilateral agreement on economic and other forms of cooperation signed by the leaders of the two countries,” noted Dilbar Nurmatova, Director of NGO Sapeda. Businessmen from the south of Tajikistan and the northern provinces of Afghanistan have naturally taken advantage of this opportunity.”
In his opening speech, the Governor of Kunduz Province expressed hope for close and continuous Tajik-Afghan economic partnership. “We suggest establishing a cross-border Tajik-Afghan market where Tajik and Afghan entrepreneurs will be able to sell their goods and promote economic development of both countries. The Afghan side is ready to create all the necessary conditions for creating such market,” the Governor said.
Businessmen, representatives of local governments, non governmental organizations, and diplomatic missions from Afghanistan and the southern Khatlon Region of Tajikistan took part in the event.
The cross-border trade project was made possible with the support of the Eurasia Foundation of Central Asia (EFCA) and the U.S. Embassy in Tajikistan, in order to foster conditions for the development of small- and mid-sized business in Tajikistan and Afghanistan. “This trade fair is evidence that there is interest on both sides for cross-border trade and cooperation. Once the recently completed Tajik-Afghan Panji Poyon Bridge becomes operational, it will contribute to stronger economic relations for the benefit of both countries”, said David Froman, Economic Officer at the U.S. Embassy in Tajikistan.
The bridge is the largest U.S. Government funded ($37.1 million) infrastructure project for Tajikistan. It cuts the distance between Dushanbe and the warm water port (in Karachi, Pakistan) almost in half, offering the potential to spur trade and economic development throughout the region.
