DUSHANBE, December 8, Asia-Plus — Foreign Minister Hamrokhon Zarifi, who is currently on an official visit to Singapore, yesterday held a number of talks with high-ranking Singapore’s state officials, according to the MFA information department.
Regional and international issues being of mutual interest as well as expansion of bilateral mutually beneficial cooperation between the two countries were among major topics of Zarifi’s talks with his Singaporean counterpart George Yeo.
The two considered it expedient to organize an official visit of Tajik president to Singapore in 2010.
Zarifi and Yeo also discussed issues related to attraction of Singaporean capital for development of Tajikistan’s economy, in particular energy, mining industry, farm produce processing, food industry, as well as tourism and hotel business.
The same day, Zarifi hold talks with the Environment and Water Resources Minister Yaacob Ibrahim and Trade and Industry Minister Lim Hng Kiang.
During a meeting with Yaacob Ibrahim, Zarifi got acquainted with progress made by Singapore’s Ministry of Environment and Water Resources in water resource management, water purification, water supply and training of personnel for this sector.
In the course of the talks, Mr. Ibrahim, in particular, noted that his country imported some 30 percent of its drinking water from Malaysia, purified and retuned used water to Malaysia, the MFA information department said.
Zarifi noted that the experience of relations between Singapore and Malaysia for water could be example of cooperation for many countries.
The sides also discussed environmental problems facing Central Asia, including the Aral Sea problem that has negative effects for the region.
The ministers noted that holding of conferences and forums on water problems could be a positive move to draw attention of international community to seeking solution to water problems.
Mr. Ibrahim confirmed his country’s intention to send its experts for participation at a conference to review the results of work carried out during the first five years of Decade for Action ”Water for Life” 2005-2015, which would take place in Dushanbe in 2010.
Zarifi and Singapore’s Trade and Industry Minister Lim Hng Kiang discussed ways to expand trade and industrial cooperation between the two countries. They underlined the importance of establishment of direct cooperation between business communities of Tajikistan and Singapore.
Tajik minister also attended briefing by the Singapore Business Federation. Issues related to establishment of direct ties between business communities of the two countries were discussed at the meeting.
Zarifi, in particular, briefed those present on investment preferences and privileges in Tajikistan as well as achievements made in the county in creating favorable investment climate in recent years.
For his part, the head of the Singapore Business Federation acquainted Zarifi with activity of the organization and expressed readiness to provide support for conducting trade seminars and forums.
