Over the past eight years, the Republic of Tajikistan has seen a steady average annual growth of gross domestic product (GDP) at 8.5%. This was stated by the country's Prime Minister Kokhir Rasulzoda, speaking at the plenary session of the International Investment Forum, which opened on Monday in Tashkent. This was reported by the National Information Agency of Tajikistan "Khovar".
The delegation of the Republic of Tajikistan, headed by the Prime Minister, took part in the forum, which was also attended by heads of state, heads of government, representatives of international financial institutions, entrepreneurs and investors from dozens of countries.
The President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev delivered a welcoming speech at the opening of the forum. He noted that holding an international investment forum has become an important platform for deepening regional cooperation, increasing entrepreneurial activity and attracting foreign direct investment.
During his speech, Kokhir Rasulzoda presented the economic potential of Tajikistan to the forum participants in detail and outlined the key areas of investment development of the country. According to him, in recent years, large-scale economic reforms have been implemented in the republic, favorable conditions for doing business have been created, tax and customs procedures have been simplified.
"The average annual growth of Tajikistan's GDP over the past eight years has been 8.5%. This is the result of systematic state support for the private sector, the creation of five free economic zones, as well as the introduction of modern technologies into industrial production and the agro-industrial sector," the Prime Minister emphasized.
He added that in the last five years alone, foreign investment totaling 11.6 billion US dollars has been attracted to the country's economy. These funds were used to implement major infrastructure, energy, transport and industrial projects.
Kokhir Rasulzoda invited foreign investors, business representatives and international organizations to take part in the International Investment Forum “Dushanbe Invest 2025”, which will be held in October this year in Dushanbe.
During his visit to Tashkent, the Prime Minister of Tajikistan was also received by the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev. During the meeting, the parties discussed the current state and prospects of bilateral cooperation. It was emphasized that Tajikistan and Uzbekistan are linked by centuries-old relations of good neighborliness, historical and cultural closeness, as well as mutual respect.
According to the interlocutors, thanks to the constructive policy of the heads of the two states, Tajik-Uzbek relations have acquired a stable and progressive character in recent years. In particular, a significant increase in trade turnover, the implementation of joint investment and infrastructure projects, and the expansion of cultural and humanitarian exchanges were noted.
A meeting of delegations from Tajikistan and Uzbekistan was also held under the chairmanship of the prime ministers of the two countries. Specific measures to increase cooperation in the fields of energy, industry, transport, use of natural resources and other sectors were discussed. Particular attention was paid to issues of efficient use of hydropower potential, mutual supplies of electricity, as well as the development and implementation of joint projects in the energy sector.
During the talks, Prime Minister of Uzbekistan Abdulla Aripov noted that further strengthening of the strategic partnership between the two countries meets the fundamental interests of the peoples of Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. He linked the successful dynamics of development of bilateral relations with the purposeful and creative activities of Presidents Emomali Rahmon and Shavkat Mirziyoyev.
Following the meeting, the Prime Minister of Tajikistan expressed confidence that the Tashkent International Investment Forum will become an important starting point for expanding business contacts, attracting investment and intensifying economic cooperation between the countries of the region.