DUSHANBE, September 16, 2008, Asia-Plus  -- In January-August 2008, the external trade turnover of Tajikistan, including electric energy and natural gas, has amounted to $3.1937 billion, which is 125.5 percent of the January-August 2007 level, according to figures provided by the State Committee for Statistics.    

The overall trade balance remained negative and has amounted to $1.997 billion. 

Exports of goods in January-August 2008 have amounted to $1.047 billion, which is $61 million more than in the same period of last year. 

Imports of goods into Tajikistan over the same eight-month period have amounted to $2.1467 billion, which is $587.8 million more than in January-August 2007.  

Compared to July, Tajikistan’s exports in August decreased by 21.2 percent and the country’s imports in August increased by 7.6 percent.    

Over the report period, Tajikistan has had trade relations with 80 countries, including 11 CIS states. 

Over the same eight-month period, the CIS states have accounted for some 43 percent (some $1.3742 billion) of Tajikistan’s external trade turnover and the far abroad countries have accounted for 57 percent ($1.8195 billion) of the country’s external trade turnover.  

We will recall that the country’s external trade turnover for the first seven months of this year has mounted to $2.7638 billion.