DUSHANBE, July 10, Asia-Plus On Monday July 9, President Emomali Rahmon received Kairat Kelimbetov, chairman of the board of Kazakhstan’s joint-stock company (JSC) Sustainable Development Fund Kazyna.
In the course of the talks the two discussed prospects of further expansion of Tajik-Kazakh cooperation in the field of investment.
Following his meeting with Tajik president, Kelimbetov told journalists that Fund Kazyna is the state-run investment company, which groups all financial institutions of development in Kazakhstan – Kazakhstan Development Bank, National Innovation Fund, Investment Fund, Small Enterprise development Fund, etc. .
He noted that although one of the main tasks of Fund Kazyna is to diversify Kazakhstan’s economy, it also conduct an active foreign economic policy, in particular in Central Asia.
“We are currently studying the possibility of participation in development of national investment funds within the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), particularly establishment of joint funds in cooperation with China and Russia,” said Kelimbetov, “Today, we discussed the possibility of establishment of such a fund in Tajikistan.”
The Kazyna top manager added that Tajik president had charged the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade to project a concept of the joint Tajik-Kazakh Fund.
On priorities and main directions of cooperation, Kelimbetov outlined sectors like energy, production of building materials and construction of cement plant in Tajikistan as areas, which are the most attractive for Fund Kazyna. Among the priorities of bilateral cooperation he also named the Adrasman ore refinery and the Big Konimansour silver deposit and the Chakabulak iron deposit in northern Tajikistan.
“Besides, we are actively studying a plan of development of hydropower in Tajikistan,” said the Kazyna board chairman, “For example, the Roghun hydroelectric power station is very important; we consider this station not the country but the regional project.”
According to him, Tajik president offered them to study the project for construction of a cascade of power plants on the Zarafshon River in northern Tajikistan.
Asked about the possibility of investing in development of tourism in Tajikistan, Kelimbetov said that this sector is not so well-developed in Tajikistan and Kazakhstan. According to him, it is necessary to work more on infrastructure in order to make tourism more attractive.
