On April 22, the Tajik President Emomali Rahmon arrived in the city of Rome, the capital of the Italian Republic, on an official visit, according to the Tajik president’s official website.
Presidential Adviser for Foreign Ties, Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Industry, Internal Affairs, Energy, Transport and Culture, as well as Head of the State Committee on Investment and State-owned Property Management, Director of the Drug Control Agency and some other high-ranking Tajik state officials are accompanying him on this visit.
At Fiumicino International Airport named after Leonardo da Vinci, the President of Tajikistan was reportedly met by high-ranking representatives and officials of Italy and the Vatican with special respect and sincerity.
In order to welcome the high-ranking guest, the lane was spread with a red carpet, and the guard of honor lined up on both sides of it, the Tajik president’s official website says.
Issues related to economic cooperation between Tajikistan and Italy, attraction of Italian investments, participation of Italian companies in projects in Tajikistan, development of transport corridors and holding regional events are expected to be discussed during the visit.
It is also planned to hold an investment forum “Tajikistan – Italy”, which will help present opportunities of investment in Tajikistan to Italian companies, an official source within the Tajik president press service told Asia-Plus in an interview.
Diplomatic relations between the Republic of Tajikistan and Italian Republic were established on May 15, 1992.
The Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Tajikistan to Italy is Jamoliddin Ubaidullo (with residence in Paris, date of presentation of credentials March 8, 2019).
The Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Italian Republic to Tajikistan is Agostino Pinna (presented his credentials to the President of the Republic of Tajikistan on February 18, 2021).
On May 21-22, 2007 the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs of the Italian Republic, Senator Gianni Vernetti, visited Tajikistan. During this visit, he met with the leadership of the country.
On April 2, 2009 the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs of Italy, Senator Alfredo Mantika visited Tajikistan. During his visit, the government-to-government agreement Tajikistan and Italy on economic, industrial and technical cooperation and the Protocol on cooperation between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Tajikistan and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Italy were signed.
On July 1, 2016, the President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon received Mr. Pietro Salini, the head of Milan-based WeBuild (formerly Salini Impregilo), which has been contracted to implement the Roghun hydropower project.
On December 13, 2019, Tajik Foreign Minister Sirojiddin Muhriddin met with Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Italy Luigi Di Maio in Rome on the sidelines of the International Conference “Italy and Central Asia: Strengthening Mutual Understanding, Cooperation and Partnership.”
On September 4, 2021, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Tajikistan Sirojiddin Muhriddin received the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Italian Republic Luigi di Maio. During the meeting, the sides exchanged views on the main topics of the bilateral agenda and discussed upcoming political contacts.
On December 8, 2021, in Tashkent, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Tajikistan Sirojiddin Muhriddin participated in the Second Ministerial Conference “Italy – Central Asia” in the C5 + 1 format.
Over the past years, the strategic partnership between Tajikistan and Italy has reportedly been developing actively in the fight against organized crime and drug trafficking. The Italian Republic was one of the major donors in the creation of the Agency for Drug Control under the President of the Republic of Tajikistan (DCA).
