DUSHANBE, July 9, 2010, Asia-Plus — The Regional Conference “Interaction of Mass Media and Business – a Foundation for Economic Development”, which took place in Dushanbe on July 7-8, 2010, discussed related to weak development of small and medium business in Tajikistan, state strategy on information and communication technologies (ITC), public’s access to business information, training of journalists in covering economic matters, etc.
Organized by the Public Association Khoma, the National Association of Small and Medium Business of Tajikistan and Internews Europe (France), with the financial support from the European Union and in partnership with the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade of Tajikistan, the conference brought together representatives from the ministries and state agencies, Tajik business associations and leading mass media of Tajikistan, heads of businesses, representatives of international organizations, and experts.
The conference was part of the Project, Reinforcing Professionalism and Public Outreach of Tajik Business Intermediary Organizations, funded by the European Union and aimed at the improvement of the business environment in Tajikistan through support to the development of business intermediary organizations and improvement of the business news reporting in local media.
The main objective of the conference was in defining basic mechanisms and approaches towards enhancement of the implementation of economic reforms and improvement of the investment climate. Discussion on the interaction between mass media and business as a link between the state and the economic sector took place.
Speaking at the conference, the Internews Europe Executive Director, Ms. Manana Aslamazian, noted low level of training of Tajik journalists in covering economic matters. She was surprised at absence of economic programs on national TV and too much number of business associations in Tajikistan.
“I was shocked when I knew that 44 business associations now operate in Tajikistan. It is not normal, in my opinion. All of them are small; the number of them must be fewer, but they must be more solid,” said Ms. Aslamazian, “Besides, there is no any interaction between them.”
According to Ms. Zuhra Halimova, Executive Director of the Tajik Branch of Open Society Institute/Assistance Foundation (OSI/AF-Tajikistan), the main role of media is in bringing information to consumer and doing that good. “The main attention must be focused on remote areas that do not have proper access to information,” she said.
Tajik Minister of Economic Development and Trade Farrukh Hamraliyev pointed to the necessity of developing main approaches to improvement of economic reforms, enhancement of economic climate.
According to him, media must cover issue that would be interesting to all representatives of one or another business.
