Over the first nine months of this year, only 11 corporate residents (about 38 percent) of the Sughd Free Economic Zone (FEZ Sughd) have operated, according to the Agency for Statistics under the President of Tajikistan.
Over the reporting period, they have reportedly produced little more than 109 million somoni (equivalent to 10.6 million USD) worth of goods, which is 4.3 percent fewer compared to the same period last year.
To-date, 24 local enterprises and five joint ventures have been registered as corporate residents of FEZ Sughd.
They reportedly produce solar collectors, plastic pipes, electric wires, external wall paints, plastic door and window profiles, plastic bottles, etc.
The Sughd Free Economic Zone or FEZ Sughd is a free economic zone located in the northern Sughd province on the territory of the south-west industrial zone of the city of Khujand. FEZ Sughd was created in 2008 by a parliamentary decree on 320 hectares of land for 25 years and began operating in August 2009. Geological and geodetic surveys were made in this area as well as the design work was carried out. In this part of the city there is a possibility to expand the territory of Sughd FEZ for up to 2,000 hectares of land at the expense of free space in the future.
To-date, the Administration of the FEZ Sughd has twenty-nine corporate residents of the free economic zone. The zone offers customs and tax incentives to qualified investors that invest at least 500,000 USD and import at least 90% of the technology and equipment.