DUSHANBE, December 26, Asia-Plus – The completion of construction of a number of textile enterprises in Tajikistan in 2007 is open to question, according to the Ministry of Energy and Industry (MoEI).
A source at a MoEI said that four textile enterprises were scheduled to be put into operation in Tajikistan next year, “however, the construction of only two of them has been launched – HIMA Textiles in Yovon, Khatlon, and a cotton-ginning factory in the northern district of Zafarobod.”
According to the source, the cotton-ginning factory HIMA Textiles was supposed to be finished in early October this year already, but because of delays in delivery of necessary equipment an opening of this enterprise was postponed to the beginning of next year. “This enterprise will most likely be put into operation next year,” the source said, adding that futures company HIMA Corporation had invested 18 million U.S. dollars in the construction of this enterprise. The rated capacity of this enterprise is to process 4,000 tons of cotton per year.
As far as the cotton-ginning factory in the Zafarobod district is concerned, the Khujand company Khujand Cotton has begun the construction of this enterprise also this year. “This enterprise is planned to annually process 9,000 tons of cotton,” the Asia-Plus interlocutor said.
Specialists from the MoEI supposed that of four textile enterprises scheduled to be finished next year, only these two will be put into operation in 2007.
“The construction of a cotton-ginning factory takes at least one year, without taking into consideration preparation and endorsement of the design and preparatory works,” said the source, “The construction of two other cotton-ginning factories — in Mastchoh and Spitamen districts in the Sughd province should start next year.” In all, seven new textile enterprises are planned to have been constructed in Tajikistan by 2015, according to him.
To promote further development of textile industry in Tajikistan the MoEI has proposed amendments to the country’s national light industry program for the period until 2015. This program stipulates that nearly US$320 million will be invested in Tajikistan’s light industry within the next few years.
According to the source, at present only 32 percent of capacities of the country’s textile enterprises is used and only some 20 percent of the cotton Tajikistan produces is processed into manufactured goods in Tajikistan, while the remainder is exported for manufacturing outside the country. Under the light industry development program, by 2015, all the cotton produced in Tajikistan will have been processed into manufactured goods inside the country.
According to the MoEI, at present there are 22 textile enterprises in Tajikistan. The largest of them is the Tajik-Korean JV Kabool-Textiles in northern Tajikistan.
