DUSHANBE, July 14, 2009, Asia-Plus — Visiting Latvian President Valdis Zatlers and Tajik Prime Minister Oqil Oqilov attended a conference of Tajik and Latvian businesspeople that was held in the Varzob district yesterday.
Addressing the business forum, Latvian leader noted that Latvia and Tajikistan had considerable potential for economic cooperation and expressed confidence that representatives of the Latvian business were interested in Tajik market. “Thirteen Tajik-Latvian joint ventures currently operate in Tajikistan and I hope we will be able to increase the number of them in the near future,” President Zatlers said, noting that under conditions of the global financial crisis the government of the two counties were solving a complex issue of keeping financial stability and seeking funds to improve entrepreneurial environment.
Mr. Zatlers noted that Latvia might become not only trading partner, it might also become springboard for Tajikistan to other countries of the European Union, providing transit cargo flows.
For his part, Tajik Prime Minister Oqil Oqilov speaking at the meeting outlined sectors like transport, energy, communications and agriculture (processing of agricultural output) as areas of which could drive the bilateral trade between the two countries.
We will recall that President Valdis Zatlers heading the dignified delegation, comprising a number of high-ranking Latvian state officials and 25 Latvian businessmen, arrived in Dushanbe on July 12 for an official three-day visit. Latvian leader’s visit to Tajikistan resulted in signing of three cooperation documents. Today morning, President Zatlers left Dushanbe for Riga.
