Tajik-Indian Business Forum to be held in Pugus today

DUSHANBE, September 7, 2009, Asia-Plus  -- A Tajik-Indian Business Forum, organized by Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and Tajikistan’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCI), will be held in the government out-of-town residence, Pugus, in the Varzob district today afternoon.

According to Kamol Kamolov, an official with State Committee for Investments and State-owned Property Management (GosKomInvest), senior representatives of 40 Indian companies working in sectors like energy, tourism, public health, pharmaceutics and agriculture have arrived in Dushanbe to attend the forum. “Tajik Aluminum Company (Talco), HIMA Corporation, construction company Novy Vek (New Century), and some other will represent Tajikistan at the forum,” the GosKomInvest official said.

Tajik President Emomali Rahmon and visiting Indian President Pratibha Patil are expected to attend the forum.  Tomorrow, the forum will continue its work at the Kokhi Vahdat State Complex in Dushanbe.  The forum is expected to result in signing of  a number of cooperation documents.

According to figures provided by the State Committee for Statistics, a two-way trade between Tajikistan and India has amounted to some 26 million U.S. dollars in January-August, 2009.  Kamolov noted, “The Government of Tajikistan intends to more than double trade with India through this Business Forum.”

Today morning, Indian entrepreneurs have visited a number of industrial enterprises in Dushanbe.

In the meantime, CII reported on September 6 that Confederation of Indian Industry is leading a delegation to Tajikistan from tomorrow to explore business opportunities in sectors like pharmaceuticals, energy and mining.  The chamber said in a statement in New Delhi that the Indian Industry could play an important role in the development and growth of Tajikistan.

The Indian industrialists would interact with their counterparts during a ''Business Forum'' to be jointly organized by CII and the Tajik Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Dushanbe.

The visit coincides with President Pratibha Patil''s visit to Tajikistan during her week-long two-nation tour.