DUSHANBE, April 18, Asia-Plus — Foreign Minister Hamrokhon Zaripov told a news conference in Dushanbe on April 18 that Tajikistan hopes for investments from the European Union.
“We hope for investments from the European Union and setting up joint ventures and we expect the European Union to participate in rehabilitation of Tajikistan’s economy,” said the minister, “We hail the European Union’s intention to builder stronger ties with Central Asia and it is important to correctly reflect the situation and expectations of Tajikistan.”
He also underlined the importance of the European investments in Tajikistan for improvement of the situation in neighboring Afghanistan. “They can use potentials of Tajikistan for rehabilitating the situation in Afghanistan” the minister said.
“The northern provinces of Afghanistan had previously produced a large amount of rice, cotton and other agricultural output while at present an opium cultivation is widespread there,” said Zaripov, “To improve the situation it is necessary to rehabilitate irrigation systems of this country and for this it is necessary to build the Dashtijum hydroelectric power station (HPS), provide Afghanistan with electrical power and water that will facilitate development of alternatives for Afghan farmers.”
