Opinions & Interviews

MINSK, 25 January (BelTA) – Belarus-Tajikistan cooperation will gain momentum, Belarusian Prime Minister Andrei Kobyakov noted as he met with Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Tajikistan to Belarus Mahmadsharif Mahmud Haqdod, BelTA informs.

Belarus’ PM congratulated Mahmadsharif Mahmud Haqdod on his appointment. “We hope that the appointment of the new Ambassador will give a new impetus to our cooperation and that this message will be communicated to everyone interested in the development of our relations. In 2018, we plan to hold a business forum, an expo of Belarusian products and Days of Culture of Belarus in Tajikistan,” Andrei Kobyakov remarked. Moreover, he is scheduled to visit the country in 2018. During the meeting, the sides discussed the preparations for the upcoming events.

Belarus has been and will be a reliable and good friend for Tajikistan, the PM stressed. “We attach great importance to our trade and economic relations, especially in light of the recent visit of the Tajikistan president to Belarus. The heads of state coordinated a number of matters related to trade and economic interaction and interaction in other fields, including the humanitarian one,” he underlined.

The ambassador, in turn, stressed that Tajikistan has been and will be a friendly country and a reliable partner for Belarus. “This is primarily due to the long-term friendship between our nations, trust-based relations between our heads of states, and the foundation of bilateral ties,” he noted. In his words, Belarus-Tajikistan cooperation has been developing within the framework of the existing agreements in trade, economy, politics, culture, and the humanitarian field. The two countries established diplomatic relations on 5 September 1996 and maintain embassies in each other’s capitals.

In January-November 2017 the trade amounted to $35.1 million, up 8.5% over the same period in 2016. Exports amounted to $32.2 million, imports came at $2.9 million. Belarus had a $29.3 million surplus in trade with Tajikistan. Belarus’ major exports were sugar, tractors, polyacetals and polyesters, carpets and flooring, special-purpose vehicles, medium density fibreboards and chipboards, medicines, malt. Belarus imported cotton, dried fruit, mixtures of nuts and dried fruits, cotton fiber.

The MTZ assembly plant was opened at the Agrotechservice company in the city of Hisor on 25 November 2017. At the initial stage the plant will produce 50 units of Belarus-80.1 and Belarus-82.1 tractors and will gradually increase the output up to 300 units per year and more. In 2018 the facility plans to start assembling Bobruiskagromash mounted and trailed equipment and Gomselmash mowers.

Over 15 Belarusian companies have developed their own commodity distribution entities in Tajikistan. Among them are such companies as BelAZ, MTZ, MAZ, Amkodor, Gomselmash.

The Belarusian-Tajik Business Council was set up in 2011. It is composed of leading enterprises-exporters and businesses associations interested in enhancing economic cooperation between the two countries. A regular meeting of the council took place in Minsk on 18 May 2017.