DUSHANBE, 17.04.2019. (NIAT Khovar) – Tajikistan and Russia’s Joint 7th Conference on Interregional Cooperation was held today in Moscow on the sidelines of the official visit of the President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon to Russia.

“Tajikistan places priority on strengthening mutually beneficial trade and economic relations with Russia as an important vector of strategic and allied partnership of the two countries based on the traditional bonds of friendship and mutual respect. The political will and a high degree of openness and mutual trust among the leaders of our states play a key role in strengthening the Tajik-Russian cooperation and bringing it to a qualitatively new level,” said the Minister of Economic Development and Trade of Tajikistan Nematullo Khikmatullozoda.

“The successful development of the Tajik-Russian trade and economic relations is crucial for the sustainable growth of the national economy. To date, Russia remains the largest foreign economic partner of Tajikistan. It accounts for almost 25% of the total foreign trade turnover of the republic, including more than 30% of deliveries by import. In 2018, the volume of mutual trade with Russia increased by 9.3% compared to 2017 and amounted to more than $1 billion,” added Hikmatullozoda.

Investment cooperation is one of the most important areas of economic cooperation between the two countries. Russian capital is involved in large-scale projects implemented in the territory of Tajikistan and occupies one of the leading positions in the total volume of investments directed to the republic. Over the past decade, Russia’s cumulative investment in the economy of Tajikistan amounted to almost $1.7 billion, including direct investment, which totaled $ 930 million.

Russian investments were directed to such sectors of the Tajik economy as energy, industrial production, mining-metallurgical and construction sectors, aviation and railway transport, agriculture, telecommunications, and the high-tech industry.

Today, 149 Russian invested enterprises operate in Tajikistan, including 40 Russian and 109 joint ventures.