DUSHANBE, January 26, Asia-Plus — Government session that opened on January 25 has reviewed Tajikistan’s economic results in 2007. Speaking at the meeting, President Emomali Rahmon yesterday harshly criticized work of the energy sector.
The president heard reports of heads of ministries and organizations on the results of work carried out in 2007, presidential press service said.
Economic Development and Trade Minister Ghulomjon Bobozoda yesterday noted that the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) rose 7.8 percent in 2007 year on year, reaching 12.7797 billion somonis.
Compared to 2006, the index of the volume of production of industrial goods amounted to 109.9 percent, and the index of the volume of production of agricultural output amounted to 106.5 percent, the minister said.
In 2007, Tajikistan’s external trade turnover, including electric energy and natural gas, amounted to $3.9236 billion, which is 125.6 percent of the 2006 level.
Last year, 3.695.9 billion somonis were transferred to the national budget, which is 28.9 percent of GDP or 10.9 percent more that it was originally planned, Bobozoda said.
Speaking at the meeting, the head of state expressed concern that free economic zones (FEZs) have not yet been established in the country. He demanded that at least one FEZ should be established in Tajikistan by the end of this year.
He also pointed to the necessity of bringing finance policy into compliance with requirements of market economy, improving state of market of securities and tightening control over administration of the budget.
The Ministry of Economic Development and Trade was given a year to remove all existing shortcomings.
Rahmon positively appreciated activities of tax and customs services. However, he demanded that they should take measures to purge their ranks of corrupt officers.
Heads of tax and customs services pledged to transfer additional 600 million somonis and 300 million somonis respectively to the national budget this year.
The president also tasked administrations of Tajik central bank and commercial banks to open their branches in all regions and increase amounts of loans provided to small and medium-sized enterprises.
He noted that the government had provided 110 million somonis to commercial banks to enhance their microfinance opportunities. These funds will go to providing loans, first of all, to cotton-growing farms at 14 percent annual interest.
The president also noted that the State Committee for Investments and Management of State-owned Property should assume control over work of investment project implementation units.
Speaking at the meeting, Emomali Rahmon harshly criticized activities of Tojikgaz (Tajik state natural-gas distributor), Barqi Tojik (Tajik electric systems) power holding and the ministry of energy and industries.
He, in particular, noted that the ministry of energy and industries had failed to properly use capacities of industrial enterprises and fulfill last year’s targets on construction of small hydropower plants and exploration of gas deposits.
He charged Energy and Industries Minister Gul Sherali, Tojikgaz director Fathiddin Muhsiddinov and Dushanbe Mayor Mahmadsaid Ubaidulloyev to take adequate measures to rehabilitate the Dushanbe and Yovon heat and power plants head. During this year, the Dushanbe heat and power plant should be rehabilitated completed and the capacity of the Yovon heat and power plant should be increased to 300 megawatt, Rahmon said.
Tajik Aluminum Company (TALCO) was charged to provide funds to reimburse expenses on rehabilitation of the Yovon heat and power plant.
Tojikgaz, Barqi Tojik and the Ministry of Energy and Industries were given six months to remove all existing shortcomings.
Rahmon also instructed to exempt diesel-run generators imported to the country from paying customs duty.
Heads of Tajik Railways and TajikAir (Tajik national air carrier) were charged to take measures to improve passenger services, work out investment projects and raise their competitiveness.
The ministry of labor and social protection was charged to pay off pension and allowance debts and improve work of commissions on payment of communal services” subsidies to poor families and take measures to regulate migration process.
Friday afternoon, heads of other ministries and organizations also reported on the results of work carried out in 2007.
Today, heads of provinces and districts are reporting on their economic results.
