DUSHANBE, June 9, Asia-Plus  -- Development of cross-border trade between Tajikistan and Afghanistan was a focus of a meeting of Mr. Odil Sangov, the deputy head of Tajikistan’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCI) with Mr. Erwin Stuzkler (phonetically spelled), consultant with International Center for Cross-Border Center, in Dushanbe on June 5, press release issues by CCI on June 9 said.    

The aim of international consultant’s visit was to get acquainted with position of CCI and Tajik business community, especially small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and craftsmen, on development of cross-border trade with Afghanistan.   

Mr. Sangov noted that small and medium-sized enterprises constitute 85 percent of the CCI members and suggested that a center for supporting SMEs participating in cross-border trade should be set up.  The CCI official also offered to consider issues of financing this center.   

He noted that CCI’s branches in Gorno Badakhshan and Khatlon province could be also involved in establishing such centers.    

The two agreed to establish a focus group of specialists for training representatives of SMEs in running cross-border trade.  

The sides decided that the International Center for Cross-Border Trade will work out feasibility study and CCI will develop a specific program for implementation of the project, the CCI press service said.