DUSHANBE, February 21, Asia-Plus — President Rahmon today met in Moscow with representatives of more than 250 Tajik public associations active in Russia, presidential press service said.
Speaking at the meeting, Rahmon noted that establishment of a Union of Tajiks was an important step towards consolidation of all fellow-countrymen living in Russia. Moreover, this consolidation is of great importance for protecting rights of labor migrants and providing them timely assistance, the president said.
The Tajik head of state noted that labor migration was a natural and indispensable process of development of international community.
Noting that labor migrants are a critical component in the economies of many countries, the president noted that according figures provided by the World Bank (WB) labor migrants remitted $150 billion to their countries in 2004 and more than $300 billion in 2006.
“We have officially asked the Russian government to provide 800,000 work permits for Tajik nationals in 2008, including 50,000 for working on construction of Olympic objects in Sochi,” Emomali Rahmon said.
He also noted that the issue of establishment of the Tajik Cultural Center in Moscow would be considered in the near future.
