DUSHANBE, May 6, 2013, Asia-Plus — Estonian Prime Minister Andrus Ansip heading a business delegation arrived in Dushanbe today morning on an official visit.
Subhiddin Muhiddinov, a chief consultant at the Tajik president’s press center, says Mr. Ansip was met at the airport by his Tajik counterpart Oqil Oqilov.
The purpose of the visit that will last till May 7 is for the Estonian delegation to examine possibilities for bilateral cooperation, establish economic contacts and present the experience of Estonia’s public sector.
While in Dushanbe, Mr. Andrus Ansip will hold talks with President Emomali Rahmon, Prime Minister Oqil Oqilov Majlisi Namoyandagon (Tajikistan’s lower chamber of parliament) Chairman Shukurjon Zuhurov and the Drug Control Agency (DCA) Director Rustam Nazarov.
A forum with participation of representatives of business communities of Tajikistan and Estonia will take place in Dushanbe on May 7. Andrus Ansip and Oqil Oqilov are expected to make speeches at the forum.
“Our cooperation with Estonia is entering a new stage and I place high hopes on this visit,” Tajik Ambassador to Estonia with residence in Minsk (Belarus), Mr. Qozidavlat Qoimdodov, was quoted as saying by the Estonian newspaper,
Postimees
.
According to Qoimdodov, a two-trade between Tajikistan and Estonia has increased 5.3 times over the past three years. In 2012, trade between Tajikistan and Estonia amounted to 9.64 million U.S. dollars.
“These figures cannot satisfy us because there is considerable room for expansion of economic ties,” Ambassador Qoimdodov noted.
According to the Agency for Statistics under the President of Tajikistan, trade between Tajikistan and Estonia over the first three months of this year has amounted 3.8 million U.S. dollars.
Meanwhile,
Postimees
reports that the 15-strong business delegation accompanying the Estonian prime minister include the chairman of the supervisory board of Port of Tallinn, Neinar Seli, board chairman of the rail cargo operator EVR Cargo, Ahto Altjoe, chairman of the board of Port of Tallinn, Ain Kaljurand, and marketing chief for the port of Sillamae, Andrei Birov.
