DUSHANBE, April 18, 2009, Asia-Plus  -- An April 17 board meeting of the Ministry of Energy and Industries (MoEI) reviewed the results of work carried out by industrial enterprises over the first quarter of this year, according to the MoEI press service.  Prime Minister Oqil Oqilov attended the meeting.

Speaking at the meeting, Energy and Industries Minister Gul Sherali noted that the ministry’s enterprises had produced a total of more than 1.218 billion somoni worth of industrial goods in January-March 2009.  Compared to January-March 2008 the index of the volume of production of industrial goods amounted to 91.8 percent.  According to the minister, the main reasons for the production decline were the global financial crisis, severe electricity and natural-gas shortages during the winter period and shortage of raw materials.

Heads of large industrial enterprises also reported on the results of work carried out by their enterprises over the report period.

Speaking at the meeting, PM Oqilov pointed to the necessity of consolidation of potentials of the industrial enterprises in order to mitigate effects of the financial crisis and ensure implementation of tasks set in president’s annual address to parliament, the press service said.