DUSHANBE, August 28, Asia-Plus — The fifth two-day session of Tajik-Kazakh intergovernmental commission for economic and trade cooperation ends in the Kazakh capital today.
According to the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade (MoEDT) the first day of work of the commission resulted in signing of a protocol of cooperation.
The commission has considered issues related to participation of Kazakh companies in enhancement of Tajikistan’s energy sector, in particular construction of a 500-kilovolt power grid in Tajikistan. The sides have also discussed the possibility of opening of branches of Kazakhstan’s commercial banks in Tajikistan.
Chairman of Tajikistan’s State Committee for Investments and Management of State-owned Property and co-chairman of the Tajik-Kazakh Economic Commission, Sharif Rahimzoda, telling the session noted that there are practically no any restrictions, and Kazakh banks can freely enter and operate in Tajikistan, owning 100 percent of share in branches opened in Tajikistan.
Tajik side has also sought Kazakh investments in development of gold and silver deposits in Tajikistan. Kazakhstan’s national agency Kazinform reported that Rahimzoda had invited Kazakh companies to participate in production and processing of precious metals in Tajikistan.
“Tajikistan is rich in gold, silver and other precious metals and we offer projects on mutual cooperation,” said Tajik official, “We offer launch of joint mining enterprises, or Kazakh investors can have enterprises with the 100-percent ownership interest.”
For his part, Kazakh co-chairman of the Kazakh-Tajik Economic Commission also Kazakh Environmental Protection Minister, Nurlan Iskakov, noted that Kazakh businesspeople have been interested in participation in joint projects in Tajikistan. Tajikistan is a very attractive state and there are no any obstacles on the way of Kazakhstan’s capital entering it, according to Iskakov,
According to data of the State Committee for Statistics, a two-way trade between Tajikistan and Kazakhstan in January-June 2007 has valued at US$177,580,191. This consisted of Tajikistan’s exports to Kazakhstan estimated at US$12,886,763 and Tajikistan’s imports from Kazakhstan worth US$164,393427.
