DUSHANBE, October 12, Asia-Plus  -- On Thursday October 11, Tajik Economic Development and Trade Minister Ghulomjon Bobozoda and India’s Commerce Secretary Shri Pillai, who are co-chairmen of the Tajik-Indian commission for trade and economic cooperation, singed in Dushanbe a protocol on trade-economic and scientific-technological cooperation.  

The protocol resulted from the fourth session of the Tajik-Indian economic commission that ended in Dushanbe yesterday.   

During two days, the sides discussed a broad range of issues related to state and prospects of further expansion of cooperation between the two countries in the fields of commerce, industry, tourism, health care, etc.   

In his closing speech, Mr. Shri Pillai noted that Tajikistan has good economic potential and Indian would like to participate in development of that potential.   He noted that work on launching joint Tajik-Indian ventures on mining engineering, processing of cotton, fruits and vegetables as well as joint enterprises to work in the energy sector would start in just a month.   

Indian official noted that during his two-day visit to Tajikistan he had held talks with Prime Minister Oqil Oiqlov, Economic Development and trade Minister Ghulomjon Bobozoda, energy and Industries Minister Gul Sherali and a number of other high-ranking Tajik state officials to discuss cooperation issues.   

For his part, Ghulomjon Bobozoda high appraised the results of work of the commission and expressed hope that the signed protocol would pave the way for further expansion of bilateral mutually beneficial cooperation between Tajikistan and India .   He noted that Tajikistan seeks cooperation of Indian investors in implementing future energy projects in the country.     

The next, fifth session of the Tajik-Indian economic commission is scheduled to be held next year in India .   

            In the meantime, a business forum with participation of Tajik and Indian entrepreneurs that opened at the Kokhi Vahdat State Complex in Dushanbe on October 10 is going on.    

More than 30 Indian entrepreneurs, representing textile, food and processing industries as well as heads of large Indian trade centers, are taking part in forum’s work.   

Tajik entrepreneurs have submitted for consideration of their Indian counterparts a number of investment projects aimed at enhancing farm-produce-processing sector in the country.  

The sides are also discussing issues related to launching joint industrial enterprises.

Ghafurjon Rasoulov, a spokesman for the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade (MoEDT), said that during their stay in Tajikistan , the Indian entrepreneurs are also planned to study opportunities of Tajikistan ’s market and establishment of business cooperation with Tajik entrepreneurs and government bodies.      

  According to figures provided by a MoEDT, a two-way trade between Tajikistan and India in January-September 2007 has valued at US$9.6 million.   This consisted of Tajikistan ’s exports to India estimated at US$13,000 and Tajikistan ’s imports from India worth US$9.587 million.