DUSHANBE, May 24, Asia-Plus – A two-way trade between Tajikistan and Russia is expected to have reached $700 million this year, Aleksandr Yakovlev, Russian trade representative in Tajikistan, announced at a briefing in Dushanbe on May 23.
A news conference was held on occasion of opening of a two-day exhibition entitled “Urals and Siberia in Tajikistan” in the Tajik capital.
“More than 60 Russian regions have to date worked in Tajikistan and due to this cooperation bilateral trade between our countries will increase,” Yakovlev said, noting that trade between the two countries increased from $300 million in 2005 to $600 million in 2006.
“This year, the two-way trade between out countries is expected to have reached $700 million,” Russian trade representative said.
He also added that after the Magnitogorsk delegation that has put on display its goods at the ongoing exhibition, delegations from Ivanovo, Saratov and Kemerovo plan to arrive in Tajikistan. “Such exhibitions are very useful for further expansion of economic cooperation between our countries,” Yakovlev said.
He noted that eight Tajik-Russian joint ventures currently operate in Tajikistan. “We plan to launch a number of other joint ventures here, particularly on processing of precious and semi-precious stones,” Yakovlev said.
“Russian investors are interested in getting to the Tajik market,” said Russian trade representative, “We jointly with Tajik Ministry of Economic Development and Trade and chamber of Commerce and Industries have sent to Russia for consideration 45 investment projects.” According to him, some Russian companies have eyed some mining enterprises in Tajikistan.
Besides, Russian companies are interested in launching joint ventures on production of wines and other alcohol drinks, the trade representative said.
According to Yakovlev, $231 million in direct investments came to Tajikistan from Russia last year.
