DUSHANBE, January 29, Asia-Plus  -- Head of the State Committee for Investments and State-owned Property Management (GosKomInvest) Farrukh Hamraliyev told a press conference in Dushanbe on January 28 that some 80 percent of investment projects are dedicated to support enhancement of energy and agrarian sectors.

Funds also invested in construction, education and health sectors.  The investment projects mainly target the real sector of economy, the GosKomInvest head said.

According to him, more than 20 meetings were held with potential foreign investors and local entrepreneurs last year.  “Investors were invited from those countries that have real opportunities to invest capital in our economy, and first of all, through direct investment,” said Hamraliyev, “We attach special significance to the direct investment funds because it is difficult and unsafe to solve all problems through foreign borrowing practice.”

He noted that GosKomInvest last year offered more than 100 investment projects to investors.  He pointed to the necessity of intensifying work in this direction this year.  “We should intensify this work because there are some factors that may negatively impact attraction of investments in our economy,” Hamraliyev said.

As of December 31, 2008, Tajikistan’s state investment portfolio has contained 51 projects for a total amount of 5.19 billion somoni, with loans accounting for 74.9 percent, grants – 13.4 percent, government’s contribution – 8.16 percent and communities – 3.49 percent, according to the GosKomInvest.

As of December 31, 2008, the total number of registered small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the country has been more than 16,300.