DUSHANBE, May 22, 2009, Asia-Plus — The first forum of entrepreneurs from Tajikistan and Saudi Arabia has opened at the Kokhi Vahdat State Complex in Dushanbe today morning.
According to the MFA information department, senior representatives of Tajikistan’s ministries and departments are also attending the meeting.
The Saudi delegation members include Abdurrahman Ibn Ali Al-Jiraisi, Deputy Head of the Council of Saudi Chambers for Commerce and Industry, Yusuf Abdullah Aqil Zayfullah Al-Awhali, Manager of the Saudi Export Development Programs, Dr. Aqil Zayfullah Hawaji, Director General of the Yanbu Project at the Royal Commission Jubail and Yanbu, as well as representative of the Saudi tourism, health, education, and agricultural output exports, the MFA information said.
Chairman of the State Committee for Investments and State-owned Property Management of Tajikistan Farrukh Hamraliyev, Tajikistan’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry Chairman Shairf Said and Deputy Head of the Council of Saudi Chambers for Commerce and Industry Abdurrahman Ibn Ali Al-Jiraisi addressed the forum.
Representatives from relevant Tajik ministries and organizations are acquainting Saudi entrepreneurs with the present state of Tajikistan’s economy, the pace of implementation of economic reforms in the country as well as a number of investment economic development projects.
The conference is being held in several sections: energy and industries; tourism, health care; transport and communications.
As it had been reported earlier, issues related to economic cooperation between Tajikistan and Saudi Arabia were discussed during Tajik foreign minister’s visit to Riyadh. Hamrokhon Zarifi, in particular, discussed these issues at a meeting with Prince Alwaleed bin Talal bin Abdulaziz Alsaud, Chairman of the Kingdom Holding Company (KHC) on may 19. According to the Saudi news agency Zuwaya, Tajik minister had been accompanied by a delegation that included Mr. Salohiddin Nasriddinov, Tajikistan Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Mr. Ardasher Qodirov, General Director of the State Unitary Enterprise “Tojik Dipservis (Diplomatic Service)”, Mr. Ikromiddin Nematov, Director of the Department of Asia and Africa, Foreign Ministry and Mr. Nourali Narzulloyev, Consul of Tajikistan to Saudi Arabia. The meeting was also attended by Ms. Nahla Al Anbar, Private Executive Assistant to HRH the Chairman.The two discussed economic cooperation between Saudi Arabia and Tajikistan and Prince Alwaleed”s global humanitarian contributions through Alwaleed bin Talal Foundation, Zuwaya reported. Zarifi thanked the Prince for his donation of 16 electric generators at a value of $500,000 to Tajikistan”s areas that were affected by the harsh winter in 2008.
Furthermore, the Prince and the Foreign Minister discussed possibilities for Kingdom Holding to invest in Tajikistan especially in the hospitality sector. The Minister expressed that his government was keen on attracting the Prince to invest there and would strive to facilitate for the success of his investments in the country. In conclusion to the meeting, Mr. Zarifi extended an invitation to HRH to re-visit Tajikistan.
In response, the Prince thanked the Minister and promised to visit the country in the near future. Prince Alwaleed visited Tajikistan last year and met with President Emomali Rahmon. The Prince”s visit was in response to an official invitation from Tajik President.
