QURGHON TEPPA, March 22, Asia-Plus  -- Tajik and Afghan entrepreneurs plan to construct two joint ventures – brickworks and lime-producing enterprise – in Khatlon’s Shahritus district, Asia-Plus has learned from the Shahritus chairman Kholmahmad Rahmonov.   

Noting that the enterprises will create some 300 new jobs for local population, Rahmonov added that an enterprise on producing soft drinks is supposed to be opened in the district in the near future. 

“In 2007, 1,200 new jobs were created in Shahritus, and further 312 new jobs have been created in the district since the beginning of this year due to construction of a number of shopping centers,” the district head said.  

In the meantime, construction of the cement plant in Shahritus has been suspended because of natural-gas shortages.  “Rising prices of natural gas have forced investors to think about the future enterprise and the construction work has been suspended for unknown period,” Rahmonov said.