On May 18, Tajik President Emomali Rahmon met in the Chinese city of Xi’an with senior representatives of more than 40 Chinese investment and trade companies, according to the Tajik president’s official website.
Emomali Rahmon reportedly stated that the meeting would give a serious impetus to the development of friendly relations and economic cooperation between the countries.
It was emphasized that since the beginning of independence, Tajikistan has been interested in the expansion of trade and economic cooperation and partnership by providing favorable conditions.
According to Rahmon, Tajik authorities have taken necessary measures to improve the investment climate in the country and provide further development of strategic industries and priority sectors, in particular energy, transport, industry and agriculture, communications, finance, banking and tourism.
Tajik leader noted that today more than 170 investment projects with the amount of more than 8 billion US dollars are being implemented in the country.
The current legislation of Tajikistan has reportedly established more than 240 lists of guarantees and Tajikistan has a developing multi-sector economy and has set up effective cooperation with all international financial institutions and has economic relations with 110 countries of the world, Rahmon noted.
He reportedly expressed satisfaction with the beneficial cooperation between Tajikistan and China that allowed the volume of mutual goods turnover to increase by 40% last year.
Hundreds of companies with the contribution of Chinese investors now operate in various sectors of Tajikistan’s economy.
Over the past decade, Chinese companies have reportedly invested 2.6 billion US dollars in Tajikistan’s economy, with more than 57% of them being direct investment.
Rahmon outlined sectors like industry, mining, metallurgy, transport, hydropower, agriculture and tourism as areas which could drive the bilateral trade between the two countries. He especially invited Chinese investments in hydropower.
Representatives of Chinese business, for their part, reportedly showed interest in purchasing clean energy from renewable sources.
During the meeting, the parties discussed hydropower plant construction projects and Tajikistan’s energy exports to China. Besides, they discussed issues of industrialization and development of industry in Tajikistan. Chinese investors reportedly showed interest in cooperation in these areas, including through launching joint ventures.