DUSHANBE, 04.05.2023 (NIAT Khovar) – As part of the state visit of the President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon to Kazakhstan, Astana hosted a Tajik-Kazakh Business Forum.

The forum was attended by representatives of relevant government agencies and business circles of Tajikistan and Kazakhstan, a total of more than 200 entrepreneurs and representatives of companies and enterprises in various fields of activity.

The forum began with an opening speech by Deputy Prime Minister of Tajikistan Sulaymon Ziyozoda and Deputy Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Zhumangarin Serik.

Then, the Minister of Industry and New Technologies of Tajikistan Sherali Kabir, the Minister of Agriculture Kurbon Hakimzoda, the Chairman of the State Committee for Investments and State Property Management Sadi Kodirzoda and the Chairman of the Committee for Environmental Protection Bahodur Sheralizoda presented opportunities and conditions for investment and cooperation between Tajikistan and Kazakhstan in the areas of industry and new technologies, agriculture, environmental protection, exports, construction of logistics centers and wholesale distribution centers.

During the forum, the parties agreed to establish joint production enterprises in the free economic zones of Tajikistan, including the Kulob Free Economic Zone, with investments from the Kazakh side, and concluded long-term agreements confirming the real trust and confidence of the Kazakhstani business sector and commercial companies in investing in the economy Tajikistan.

The parties will also sign long-term contracts in the mining and metallurgical industry and carry out a commodity exchange of products.

The forum aimed at finding business partners between entrepreneurs, as well as to expand trade and economic cooperation between both states.

The participants were also presented with investment climate and opportunities in industry, agriculture, construction, tourism, services, exports, logistics, pharmaceuticals and other industries, as well as joint cooperation projects were discussed.

Also, within the forum, bilateral meetings of entrepreneurs of both countries, public and private sectors of both parties were held in the “Business to Business” (B2B) format, following which, about 40 cooperation documents worth more than $ 2.6 billion were signed in the direction of creating joint ventures, industrial cooperation and the service sector.

The third meeting of the Working Council of Tajikistan and Kazakhstan was also held, the purpose of which was to review the situation and find the new and effective ways of interstate trade and economic cooperation.

The Chairman of the Committee for Tourism Development Kamoliddin Muminzoda, Director of the Export Agency Bahriddin Sirojiddinzoda and Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry Jamshed Jurahonzoda spoke at the Council, who made useful suggestions and recommendations on the priorities of cooperation and investment in the fields of trade, economy, tourism, export and logistics.

It should be noted that Kazakhstan is an important strategic partner of Tajikistan. Today, Kazakhstan ranks second among Tajikistan’s foreign trade partners in terms of trade.

The relations between Tajikistan and Kazakhstan have opportunities and favorable conditions for strengthening economic cooperation, and trade between the two countries increased by $263 million or more than 20% over the past year and amounted to almost $1.5 billion.