DUSHANBE, August 19, 2009, Asia-Plus  - Although India and Tajikistan have made important steps towards expansion of bilateral trade and economic cooperation in recent years, bilateral trade currently does not correspondent to its real potential, Indian Ambassador to Tajikistan Amar Singh remarked yesterday at the event in Dushanbe dedicated to the 63rd anniversary of India’s Independence.

According to him, India’s economy has been dynamically developing in recent years that is one of major preconditions for expansion of Indian-Tajik trade and economic cooperation.

Indian diplomat said that India expects an 8 percent economic growth this year.

Mr. Amar Singh noted that the two countries are establishing bilateral cooperation in the field of high technologies as well as in construction and energy sectors.  “A number of joint ventures working in these directions have been launched; however, it necessary to develop these relations,” Ambassador Singh said.

Tajik Foreign Minister Hamrokhon Zarifi, for his part, noted that Tajikistan’s leadership hopes that visit of Indian President to Tajikistan, scheduled for September this year, will open a new page in the history of Tajik-Indian relations.

Zarifi expressed hope that modernization of the Varzob-1 hydroelectric power plant, which has been carried out with support from Indian companies Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) and National Hydro Power Corporation (NHPC), will be finished in time.