Belarusian media reports say Tajik President Emomali Rahmon told reporters in Minsk on June 28 after his talks with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko that Tajikistan is interested in attracting Belarusian advanced technologies for its real economic sector.
“I would like to emphasize our interest in expanding production and cooperation ties with Belarusian partners and attracting Belarusian advanced technologies for Tajikistan’s real economic sector,” Emomali Rahmon said, according to BelTA.
In his words, special attention at the talks was reportedly attached to the expansion of trade and economic cooperation. “The matter pertained to the development of long-term forms of cooperation in the basic sectors of economy such as industry and agriculture, and also to the expansion of the assortment in trade taking into account the potential of the two countries. Strengthened ties in these areas would produce a considerable boost to our trade and economic relations,” Emomali Rahmon said. Tajikistan is interested in developing cooperation in agriculture, establishing supplies of Belarusian high-quality seed potato and pedigree material of the Belarusian selection. “In turn, we are ready to increase the exports of our eco-friendly fruit and dried fruit,” he said.
Cooperation in education was reportedly another topic for discussion. BelTA says more than 1,500 students from Tajikistan study in Belarusian universities. The leading universities of Tajikistan have organized joint departments. “It is time we looked into an opportunity of implementing new joint Tajikistan-Belarus education projects,” Emomali Rahmon said.
“We had a serious exchange of opinions on the whole range of regional and international issues. With the tense situation on the CIS south borders in mind, we focused on regional security, discussed the Afghan issue and spoke in favor of further joint efforts to restore peace and stability in Afghanistan,” he said.
According BelTA, Tajik leader noted that the talks were held in an atmosphere of constructivism and full understanding. Emomali Rahmon reportedly extended greetings to Belarus as the country celebrates 75 years since the liberation from the Nazis, and invited Alexander Lukashenko to pay an official visit to Tajikistan.
According to official statistical data, the bilateral trade of Tajikistan and Belarus last year valued at 37.4 million U.S. dollars.
Over the first four months of this year, the two-way between the two countries has reportedly exceeded 12 million U.S. dollars.
Representative offices of more than 15 Belarusian companies now operate in Tajikistan, including those of BelAZ, MAZ, MTZ, Amkodor, Gomselmash, and Bobruiskagromash. An enterprise assembling MTZ tractors operates in Hisor district. Work is in progress to set up a dairy enterprise in Dushanbe.
