DUSHANBE


, January 24, Asia-Plus — On Monday January 23, Sharif Saidov head of


Tajikistan


’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCI), had a telephone conversation with Aqil al-Jasem, Secretary General of the Islamic Commerce of Chamber, according to the CCI press service. 

In the course of the conversation the two considered issues related to international conference on investments that will be held in


Saudi Arabia


in April this year. 


Tajikistan


was invited to attend this conference.  The CCI head Sharif Saidov has told Asia-Plus that the conference in


Saudi Arabia


is aiming to consider issues of development of tourism.  Besides, an exposition of achievements of Islamic countries in tourism and relevant industries will be held on sidelines of the conference.  

According to him, their talks also focused on organizing issues related to holding of a conference on investments and privatization, which is supposed to be held in


Dushanbe


in the autumn.  “Senior representatives of chambers of commerce from Islamic countries as well as interested organizations, including financial institutions of these countries, are expected to attend the conference in


Dushanbe


,” Mr. Saidov said, noting that the


Dushanbe


conference is staged by the CCI in cooperation with the Islamic Chamber of Commerce.  

DUSHANBE


, January 24, Asia-Plus — “Activity of primary organizations of the Islamic Revival Party of Tajikistan (IRPT) is currently under strict control of the party’s leadership,” Hikmatullo Sayfullozoda, a spokesman for the IRPT, said in his interview with Asia-Plus.   

According to him, it follows a statement by Tajik Minister of Interiors, Khumdin Sharipov, that the IRPT members have allegedly had contacts with the “Hizb ut-Tahrir” organization. 

On January 19, Khumdin Sharipov speaking to journalists noted that there were several cases when members of


Tajikistan


’s Islamic Revival Party were detained with arms that had been handed over to them by representatives from the “Hizb ut-Tahrir” organization.

            “We can not yet either deny or confirm these cases and our task is to find out what is the reason for this and how could it happen?” 

At present, according to him, they are probing in the possibility of such contacts between the party’s members and representatives from the “Hizb ut-Tahrir” organization.  “There is direction in our party that our members should not have any contacts with the “Hizb ut-Tahrir” party,” Mr. Sayfullozoda said, noting that the IRPT does not recognize activity of this organization because firstly, this party is not registered as religious organization in any of Muslim countries and secondly, it is illegal.  

“If collaboration between members of the IRPT and representatives from the “Hizb ut-Tahrir” organization is confirmed, we will just expel these members from the party,” Mr. Sayfullozoda concluded.  

QURGHON TEPPA, January 24, Asia-Plus – Cotton growers in Jilikul District (



Khatlon


Province


) failed to fulfill their last year’s target because of inopportune supply by futures companies of fuel and fertilizers, Chairman of Jilikul District, Amirbek Mahmadaliyev, told journalists on January 23.  

According to him, the futures companies last year supplied to the cotton-growing farms in the district fuels 52 percent less that it was planned and mineral fertilizers 23 percent less that it was planned.  

“This year, contracts will be signed between four parties – futures companies, dehqan (peasant) farms, trade unions and bodies of the agri-industrial complex,” the district head noted.  

DUSHANBE


, January 24, Asia-Plus – in 2005,


Tajikistan


produced 4.1145 billion Somonis worth of industrial goods, which 322.3 million Somonis more compared to 2004, the Industries Minister, Zayd Saidov, announced at a news conference in


Dushanbe


on January 23. 

According to him, of 630 industrial enterprises in the republic, 387 (61 percent) exceeded the 2004 production level and provided production growth.  

“Last year, a share of non-ferrous metallurgy in the country’s industry accounted for 43.5 percent, share of food industry for 18.7 percent, share of light industry for 16.2 percent, share of fuel-energy industry for 7.1 percent, share of building materials production accounted for 2.6 percent, share mechanical engineering and ore processing accounted for 1.5 percent, and the share of chemical and oil-chemical industry accounted for 1.3 percent,” the minister said, noting that decrease in output of some basic items of industrial products in Tajikistan is connected with shortage of fuel, and the fact that equipment have outlived their service.   

The minister also noted that 48 new enterprises and those that were standing idle set to producing output.   “Of them, 20 enterprises are based in


Dushanbe


, 16 – in


Sughd


Province


, 5 – in


Khatlon


Province


, 6 – in districts subordinate to the center, and one enterprise in Gorno Badakhshan,” Zayd Saidov said.

DUSHANBE, January 24, Asia-Plus  — At present Tajikistan does not have money to carry out flu immunization amongst the population, Tajikistan’s Chef Sanitary Physician also Deputy Health Minister, Ziyovuddin Afghonov, said at a meeting with journalists in Dushanbe on January 23.    

According to him, the main reason for this is expensiveness of the vaccine, which cost some US$7.00.    

DUSHANBE


, January 24, Asia-Plus — 10,000 tons of low-quality pharmacological products were destroyed in


Tajikistan


in


Tajikistan


, Deputy Health Minister, Abumuslim Temurov announced at a news conference in


Dushanbe


on Monday January 23.  

“In


Sughd


Province


alone, raids made last year on confiscation and destruction of forged and overdue medicines events led to the confiscation of more than 4 tons of overdue medicines,” the Tajik health official said.    

In total, in


Tajikistan


, medical workers checked more than 14,687 items of medicines, according to him.  “The inspections revealed that of them, 386 items do not meet standard requirements and are not fit for taking,” Mr. Temurov said.  

Besides, of the 3,500 items of perfumery imported to


Tajikistan


last year 180 items do not meet standard requirements and are forged, according to the deputy health minister.  

On the infectious diseases in the republic, Abumuslim Temurov noted that unsafe drinking water remained the main reason for spread of intestinal infections in the republic.  He warned against drinking tap water, noting that inspections carried out last year revealed that 43.3 percent of water supplied to residential houses in the republic does not meet standard requirements.  

DUSHANBE, January 24, Asia-Plus  – In 2005, state-run companies, as well as private enterprises and individual entrepreneurs delivered 288,500 tons of wheat (2.3 times more compared to 2004) and 346,300 tons of wheat flour (1.5 times more compared to 2004) in Tajikistan, Chairman of the State Unitary Enterprise “Ghalla” (state grain supply company), Akram Ruziyev, said in his interview with Asia-Plus today morning.  

According to him,



Tajikistan


last year produced 934,000 tons of cereals.  Akram Ruziyev says


Kazakhstan


,


Uzbekistan


and


Russia


provide the bulk of


Tajikistan


’s wheat and grain products imports.  “Last year, 209,800 tons of wheat and 330,200 tons of flour were imported from


Kazakhstan


, 73,300 tons of wheat and 11,300 tons of flour from


Uzbekistan


, and 5,000 tons of wheat and 4,100 tons of flour were imported from


Russia


,” Ruziyev said, noting that purchase prices were 15%-20% lower compared to 2004.   

“At present the republic has enough reserve of wheat and flour,” said the Asia-Plus interlocutor, “Besides, additional wheat and flour supplies are also planned.” 

The “Ghalla” head has said with confidence that no sudden increase in prices of grain products is expected in the republic in near future.