KHUJAND, December 4 2008, Asia-Plus – Resumption of functioning of the Khujand-based Tajik-Vietnamese joint venture for producing floss threads, VT-Silk, has been postponed for uncertain period.
The VT-Silk director general Le Hi Zy told Asia-Plus today that the main reasons for postponement were financial problem and suspension of natural-gas supplies.
According to him, the enterprise has inconsiderable natural-gas debts and “natural-gas distributors might have bended before our request.”
“We might have paid off our debts if the enterprise had worked,” said the director general, “Since solution of this problem is postponed resumption of functioning of the enterprise is postponed as well.”
As it had been reported earlier, VT-Silk suspended its operations on November 21. According to Le Hi Zy, the enterprise’s operations were suspended for technical reasons. “We have concluded futures contracts with silkworm-breeding districts in the province on production of cocoons; however, not all of them have fulfilled their obligations,” said the director general, “Thus, silkworm breeding farms in the Konibodom district have received totaling some 60,000 US dollars but they have not supplied any kilogram of cocoon to us so far. The Asht district is also slow in supplying cocoons.”
To ensure regular work VT-Silk needs at least 500 tons of cocoons per year, while the enterprise has received only 180 tons this year so far, according to him. “However, we have the reserve, which is enough for work till the end of the year,” Le Hi Zy said.
Some 500 people currently work with VT-Silk in two shifts at an average monthly wage of 240 somoni. The whole VT-Silk’s output is exported to India, Thailand and Vietnam.
