DUSHANBE, December 9, 2008, Asia-Plus — Kazakhstan intends to expand its bilateral cooperation with Tajikistan in all economic branches, Kazakh Ambassador to Tajikistan, Mr. Abutalip Akhmetov, announced at a press conference in Dushanbe on December 9.
“However, priority will be given to the energy sector, in particular, construction of small and medium-sized hydropower plants in Tajikistan,” said Ambassador Akhmetov, “We are currently waiting for mutually beneficial proposals from Tajik authorities.”
He also reminded that under an agreement reached between the two countries during Kazakh president’s visit to Tajikistan in September 2007, a joint investment fund had been set up. “The joint investment fund of 100 US million dollars has been set to invest in projects in Tajikistan,” Akhmetov said, noting that the fund would start its work beginning on January 1, 2009.
We will recall that speaking to reporters in Dushanbe in September 2007, Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev noted that the fund would give priority to the economic areas that “are of interest to both countries: electric power generation, agriculture, the mining industry, and other important spheres of the economy.” Kazakh president also expressed confidence that the fund would have a significant influence on broadening of Tajik-Kazakh investment cooperation. Nazarbayev said Kazakhstan would provide 80 percent of the money to the fund.
In the meantime, touching upon the issue of completing construction of the Roghun hydroelectric power station (HPS) in Tajikistan, Ambassador Akhmetov noted that his country agreed to participate in an international consortium for completion of the Roghun hydroelectricity project. “We want to participate in the consortium but we want everything to be transparent but not in favor of somebody,” Kazakh diplomat said.
On the Tajik labor migrants working in Kazakhstan, Akhmetov said Kazakhstan is interested in participation of Tajik migrant workers in large projects, in particular construction of gas pipelines and highways in Kazakhstan.
