DUSHANBE, October 20, 2010, Asia-Plus — An enlarged government board meeting, presided over by Prime Minister Oqil Oqilov, took pace in Dushanbe on October 19.
Speaking at the meeting the prime minister, in particular expressed dissatisfaction with a slow pace of organization of activities of free economic zones (FEZ) established in the country.
“The Sughd and Panj free economic zones are operating improperly, while the work on the establishment of the Ishkashim and Danghara free economic zones is practically at a complete standstill,” Oqilov said, noting that plans on attraction of investments for development of FEZs and delivery of modern equipment to them are not being fulfilled.
Minister of Economic Development and Trade Farrukh Hamraliyev noted that Tajikistan was just at the initial stage of development of those zones. “The Sughd and Panj free economic zones have already begun to operate,” said Hamraliyev, “As far as the Ishkashim and Danghara FEZs are concerned, by government’s decree the head of the Ishkashim FEZ was appointed recently and the work on selection of personnel is under way. The similar situation is at the Danghara FEZ. We are still thinking what enterprises should be established at these FEZs.”
According to him, the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade (MEDT) plans to organize regular discussions on this subject with participation of experts and entrepreneurs. “The ministry has prepared the new edition of the law on Free Economic Zones adopted in 2004 and submitted it for consideration to the government,” the minister stressed.
