Tajik President Emomali Rahmon has called on Sri Lankan businesspeople to invest in Tajikistan’s economy.
Tajik president’s official website reported on December 15 that President Rahmon has met with representatives of the Sri Lankan business community in Colombo.
The meeting took place at Cinnamon Lakeside Hotel in Colombo on December 14.
Rahmon reportedly discussed the work plans with regard to trade and investment opportunities with the business community of Sri Lanka.
He called on the Sri Lankan businesspeople to invest in Tajikistan’s economy, noting that Tajikistan’s tax legislation provides for more than 240 benefits for entrepreneurs.
Rahmon outlined sectors like energy, light and food industries, minerals, agriculture, construction, and tourism, s areas that could drive a two-way trade between Tajikistan and Sri Lanka.
Tajik president invited Sri Lankan businesspeople to visit Tajikistan and to study the country’s investment climate, the website said.
Meanwhile, Sri Lanka’s newspaper Daily News cited Tajik President Emomali Rahmon as saying, “Tajikistan welcomes wide-ranging collaboration that will allow our countries to work together to achieve the shared goals of economic development.”
The President noted that he and his government are working hard to make Tajikistan an attractive destination for foreign capital.
“My country affords foreign investors many perks and privileges and does not treat foreign businesspeople differently from local ones. They have the same protections under the law,” he continued.
Rahmon added that Tajikistan is rich in natural resources, including minerals, metals, and fresh water. The country is in the process of setting up and expanding several free trade zones and industrial parks that he hopes will aid its economic development. “We have the natural resources and you have new technology and lots of experience. Let us work together for mutual benefit,” he was quoted as saying by Daily News.
Rahmon shared that he had invited President Maithripala Sirisena for an official visit to Dushanbe, and President Sirisena is likely to visit this coming March.
He likewise added that there are preliminary plans to nominate Honorary Consuls in each country to help facilitate future business dealings, the newspaper said.
Recall, President Emomali Rahmon was visiting Sri Lanka from 12 to December 12 at the invitation of the President Sirisena. During the visit, President Rahmon held official meetings with President Maithripala Sirisena, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and Parliament Speaker Karu Jayasuriya in Colombo.
Prior to the state visit, President Rahmon met with Sri Lankan Prime Minister Wickremesinghe on the sidelines of the 12th World Islamic Economic Forum, which was held in Jakarta, Indonesia in August 2016.
