DUSHANBE, November 29, 2008, Asia-Plus – Iran has made good progress in car manufacturing and Tajikistan welcomes cooperation on a joint car factory with Iran, Tajik President Emomali Rahmon told reporters on November 28 during his visit to SAIPA Diesel and SAIPA car factory in Tehran, according to Iran’s news agency IRNA.

"It is expected that SAIPA Company first opens a representative office in Tajikistan and then establishes a car sales center there," the Tajik leader, noting that Iran has made good progress in many other industries, too.

Considering the high price of gasoline in Tajikistan, many Tajiks cannot have a car in that country.  Seven million population has the ability to absorb 80 thousand passenger cars in its market, annually.

Upon former agreements, around 2,000 "Samand" cars will be exported to Tajikistan soon.