DUSHANBE, June 17, 2009, Asia-Plus  -- Over the first five months of this year, the external trade turnover of Tajikistan, including electrical power and natural gas, has amounted to 1.3987 billion U.S. dollars, which was 73.1 percent of the January-May 2008 level, according to the State Committee for Statistics.

Exports of goods in January-May 2009 amounted to 345.6 million US dollars, which was 43.1 percent fewer than in the same period of 2008.

Imports of goods into the country over the report period have amounted to 1.0531 billion US dollars, which was 18.9 per cent fewer than in January-May 2008.

Compared to April 2009 exports and imports last month decreased by 34.2 percent and 35.1 percent respectively.

In January-May 2009, Tajikistan had trade relations with 87 countries of the world, including 11 CIS states.

Over the report period the CIS countries accounted for 46.1 percent, or 644.4 million dollars, of Tajikistan’s external trade turnover and the far abroad countries accounted for 53.9 percent, or 754.3 million dollars.