DUSHANBE, March 19, 2011, Asia-Plus — Organized by the CIS Executive Committee and the CIS Business Center for Economic Development, the CIS International Economic Forum formally titled “Twenty Years Together: Cooperation Experience and Prospects” took place in Moscow on March 18.
Tajikistan was represented by Minister of Economic Development and Trade Farrukh Hamraliyev at the forum that brought together representatives of executive and legislative power, private business, leading investment and finance organizations, research and expert centers and trade unions of all the CIS member nations.
The forum participants discussed strategies of CIS economic development for the period until 2020, free trade zone treaty and interstate program for innovative cooperation till 2020, Customs Union and prospects for the single economic space.
The forum also considered Tajikistan’s proposals on economic integration, establishment of mutually beneficial business relations between CIS business communities, development and promoting of the most important projects, the ways of attracting potential investors and clients, as well as providing assistance to inventors, designers, and producers of high-tech products in development of foreign and Russian markets.
According to the CIS Executive Committee, a survey conducted by the World Organization of Creditors (WOC) was presented at the meeting.
The survey assesses the CIS investment potential in comparison with world’s five largest trade and economic blocs: the European Union (EU); Asia-Pacific Trade Agreement (APTA); the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA); Mercosur (Southern Common Market, an economic and political agreement between Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay); and the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Persian Gulf.
According to the survey’s findings, the CIS total gross domestic product (GDP) has increased six times over the past decade. The survey notes that in 2010, the CIS GDP increased by 10 percent.
Established in October 2009 by a number of companies operating in the international financial and credit market, the World Organization of Creditors (WOC) is a non-profit organization that is reportedly dedicated to support its members to restructure and recover debts as well as secure their investments.
In parallel, an exhibition of innovative projects and the seminar “Development of Business Climate within the CIS Area” were held that gave the participants an opportunity to learn more about promising projects, to share opinion with representatives of executive power and business about further expansion of business cooperation. Besides, the award ceremony was held during the forum to honor the best CIS business leader and the best leader of CIS economic integration.
The event ended with the signing of a final document, which will be passed to legislative and executive authorities of the CIS countries.
Tajikistan assumed the rotating CIS chairmanship and Dushanbe will host the next annual CIS summit set for September 2011.
