DUSHANBE , February 27, Asia-Plus - A two-day session of the Tajik-Afghan commission for economic cooperation has resulted in signing of a protocol on social, economic and technical cooperation between the two countries.   

The first session of the Tajik-Afghan intergovernmental commission for economic and trade cooperation was held in Dushanbe on February 23-24. 

On February 24, the protocol was signed in Dushanbe between the Government of Tajikistan, represented by Hakim Soliyev, Minister of Economy and Trade, and the Government of Afghanistan, represented by Dr. Nazir Ahmad Shahidi, First Deputy Minister of Economy.  

“The sides have agreed to expand bilateral cooperation in the areas of standardization and metrology, agriculture, industry, medicine, education and science, banking system and energy,” the source said.  Under energy cooperation between Tajikistan and Afghanistan a number of power-transmission lines, including the power-transmission line Lolazor-Kulob-Badakhshan-Talekan with voltage of 220 kilovolt, will be constructed, according to him.  

The source notes that some 40 percent of Afghanistan ’s population have not provided with electricity, and Tajikistan is able to supply some 2 billion kWh of electric power to Afghanistan in the summer period.  The meeting in Dushanbe also discussed the possibility of the construction of 130 kilometers of gas pipeline from northern Afghanistan to the Tajik district of Kolkhozobod in Khatlon province.  The sides also reached an agreement on the construction of the automotive road from the Tajik town of Dusti (Khatlon province) to the Afghan province of Kunduz as well as the highway from Qurghon Teppa to Mazar-i Sharif in Afghanistan , the source said.        

In 2005, a trade turnover between Tajikistan and Afghanistan amounted to some US$15 million, while in January this year, it amounted to US$1.3 million, which is 19 percent more compared to January 2005.