DUSHANBE, January 16, Asia-Plus - A Tajik-Chinese business forum opened in Beijing today. 

Odil Sangov, deputy head of Tajikistan’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCI), said in an interview with Asia-Plus that more than 200 representatives from different Chinese companies seeking cooperation with Tajikistan are taking part at the meeting.  

“Our country is represented by more than 50 companies and enterprises at the business forum in Beijing,” said the CCI official, “They will offer Chinese companies to participate in various investment projects in Tajikistan.” 

The forum is discussing ways to increase prospects of economic cooperation between the two countries.

According to him, a Tajik business delegation participating in the forum’s work include top managers of Tojikcement (Dushanbe cement plant), Zeravshan Gold Company (ZGC), Shirin (confectionery), Joint-Stock Company Textiles, KhujandCotton, Yoqut-2000, Limited Liability Company Humo, Tajik Vostokredmet (Eastern Rare Metals), Babilon (cellular operator) and Telecomm Technology Ltd, as well as heads of Tajikistan’s largest banks such as OryonBonk, AmonatBonk (Tajik savings bank), AgroInvestBonk and TajPromBank.  

According to the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade (MoEDT), 41 enterprises with participation of Chinese capital currently operate in Tajikistan.  As of October 1, 2006, Tajikistan has received from China $9.3 million in direct investments.