DUSHANBE, January 10, 2009, Asia-Plus — In a statement delivered at an enlarged meeting of the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade (MoEDT) in Dushanbe, Economic and Development Trade Minister Ghulomjon Bobozoda revealed on January 9 that in 2008 the country produced a total of 5.905 million somoni (equivalent to 1.72 billion US dollars) worth of industrial goods.
According to him, compared to 2007 the index of the volume of production of industrial goods amounted to 96 percent.
The minister noted that the decrease in the industrial production had been caused by an energy crisis that hit the country in early 2008. The majority of industrial enterprises were forced to suspend their operations.
“In 2008, only 465 of 781 industrial enterprises operated regularly, while more than 233 enterprises reduced their production volumes,” said Bobozoda, “Moreover, there were 93 enterprises that were not in operation,”
He further added that production of cotton, aluminum and cement was considerable reduced last year.
