DUSHANBE, October 21, 2008, Asia-Plus  -- Present state and the dynamics of interregional cooperation make it possible to expect a two-way trade between Russian Federation and Tajikistan to have reached some US$1 billion by 2009, Vadim Gustov, the head of the Federation Council (Russia’s upper chamber of parliament) Committee for CIS Affairs, said, commenting on the prospects of the upcoming Third Tajik-Russian Inter-parliament Forum “Tajikistan-Russia: Potential of the Interregional Cooperation” that will be held in Dushanbe on October 24-25, according the Russian Embassy in Dushanbe.  

Mr. Gustov noted that that decisions made at the forum and documents signed by its participants would promote putting that prognosis into effect.  “I an sure the forum, relying on the laid legal foundation, will give a new impulse to further expansion of cooperation between Russia and Tajikistan,” he said, noting that interregional cooperation remains the key factor of trade and economic cooperation between the two countries.  

According to him, 70 constituent territories of the Russian Federation now actively cooperate with Tajikistan.  Projects for cooperation with Tajikistan in sectors like energy, water economy, communications, environmental protection, education and science, health care, and mining have already been developed, Gustov added.