DUSHANBE, September 5, Asia-Plus — Tajik and Bulgarian entrepreneurs have gathered in Tajik capital to discuss cooperation issues.
A business forum with participation of Tajik and Bulgarian entrepreneurs opened at the Kokhi Vahdat State Complex in Dushanbe today morning.
The forum has brought together 80 Tajik entrepreneurs and 40 their Bulgarian counterparts working in the fields of construction, tourism, agriculture, transport, telecommunications, education, optic networks and food industry.
Addressing the conference, visiting Bulgarian Foreign Minister Ivailo Kalfin noted that his country is interested in boosting cooperation with Tajikistan in the field of hydropower. “Bulgaria has already gone through this stage and we have constructed a number of large hydroelectric power stations and we now export electricity to the neighboring countries in the region,” Bulgarian minister said.
For his part, Tajikistan’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCI) head Sharif Said expressed hope that the forum will pave the way for further expansion of many-sided cooperation between Tajikistan and Bulgaria.
The main purpose of the visit is for Ivailo Kalfin, heading the Bulgarian government and business delegation, to discuss with high-ranking Tajik state officials issues related to reestablishing of cooperation with Tajikistan in different fields as well as study potentials of Tajik market.
According to CCI, Aide to the Bulgarian President for Economic Matters Ertan Kara, Director of the Agency for Tourism Angelia Mikhaylova-Krushkova, Deputy Economy and Energy Minister Louchezar Borisov, Deputy Regional Development and Improvement Minister Savin Kovachev and a group of Bulgarian businessmen have been accompanying Kalfin on his visit to Tajikistan.
Before the forum. Kalfin held talks with his Tajik counterpart Hamrokhon Zarifi.
We will recall that during his stay in Dushanbe, visiting Bulgarian minister is also scheduled to hold talks with President Emomali Rahmon and the Majlisi Namoyandagon (Tajikistan’s lower chamber of parliament) Speaker Saydullo Khairulloyev.
According to data of the State Committee for Statistics, a two-way trade between Tajikistan and Bulgaria in January-June 2007 has valued at US$1,657,959. This consisted of Tajikistan’s exports to Bulgaria estimated at more than US$1.62 million and Tajikistan’s imports from Bulgaria worth US$34,393.
