Organized by the Ministry of Industry and New Technologies of Tajikistan (MoINT) with the support of the UNDP in Tajikistan within the framework of the Project for Livelihood Promotion in Tajik-Afghan Cross-border Areas (LITACA), a Tajik-Afghan business forum took place at the Hyatt Regency Dushanbe Hotel on June 4.
The event that focused on opportunities for expansion of trade and economic cooperation between the two countries was attended by Tajik Deputy Prime Minister Usmonali Usmonzoda, Afghan Ambassador to Tajikistan Mohammad Zahir Agbar, Afghan Minister of Industry and Commerce Nisar Ahmad Ghoryani, heads of relevant ministries and departments of Tajikistan and Afghanistan and representatives of the business communities of the two countries.
The forum participants expressed their interest in strengthening economic ties between Tajikistan and Afghanistan.
Investment opportunities from Tajikistan and Afghanistan were presented at the forum. The business circles of Tajikistan and Afghanistan also held meetings in a B2B format.
It is expected that 24 entrepreneurs from Afghanistan, working in various fields of business, will visit a number of industrial enterprises and free economic zones in Tajikistan, meet Tajik colleagues to discuss cooperation.
A legal foundation of bilateral cooperation between Tajikistan and Afghanistan includes 85 cooperation documents.
Last year, the bilateral trade between Tajikistan and Afghanistan valued at more than 70 U.S. dollars.
To-date, six bridges have been built across the Panj River to consolidate permanent overland links between Tajikistan and Afghanistan.
The Project for Livelihood Promotion in Tajik-Afghan Cross-border Areas (LITACA) is a four-year initiative, with funding totaling US$ 9.9 million, financed by the Government of Japan through Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and implemented by UNDP Tajikistan in cooperation with UNDP Afghanistan.
