DUSHANBE, December 12, Asia-Plus – To combine efforts to improve business environment in the country heads of business associations of Tajikistan have decided to set up integrated union, which would group all local entrepreneurs’ associations and business-supporting and NGOs.  

 A meeting with participation of representatives of business-supporting associations and NGOs from Dushanbe, Gorno Badakhshan, Khatlon, Rasht Valley and Sughd was held in the office of the USAID Business Environment Improvement (BEI) Project in Dushanbe yesterday.

The meeting focused on problems facing entrepreneurship in Tajikistan, in particular those that impede development of private business in the country.  It was noted that entrepreneurs practically do not have access to elaboration and adoption of laws aimed at promoting development of entrepreneurship in the country.  In this connection, the meeting participants noted that business community should be more solid and active in protection of their interests and removing various administrative obstacles.  

The private sector should not only follow state-established rules but also influence to a certain extent decision-making process for the purpose of creating more favorable conditions for effective participation of the private sector, ensuring economic wellbeing of the country.

To achieve these goals the meeting participants proposed to set up coordinating council of business association, which would be an informal union of legal entities – business associations, sectorial, regional and professional unions and business-supporting NGOs.  

The main goal of the coordinating council is to provide effective and consolidated participation of business community in preparing and carrying out economic reforms, elaborating business-related laws, creating favorable conditions for development of entrepreneurship, raising its role in providing economic growth of the country and sustainable development of market economy.  

The key objectives of the coordinating council include consolidation of business community’s effectors, expression of entrepreneurs’ interests, participation in economic reforms, establishment of partnership with government bodies on condition that  balance of interests of society, authorities ad business is observed.  The council should also participate jointly with government in elaboration and implementation of economic development, establishment of partnership with representatives from business communities of other countries, etc.  

This new union is called “Coordination Council of Association of Entrepreneurs of Tajikistan.”   The council’s board will consist of heads of the mentioned organizations that would be members of the council.   

Nekroy Zobirov was elected as chairman of the Coordination Council, and Boymamad Alibakhshev from Gorno Badakhshan, Rahmatboyev from Sughd and Imomnazarova from Khatlon were elected as deputy heads for regions.  

The first meeting of the coordinating council is expected to discuss the upcoming meeting of President Rahmon with Tajik entrepreneurs.  It is also planned to prepare a text of an appeal of Tajik entrepreneurs to the president.