DUSHANBE, November 11, 2009, Asia-Plus  -- Kharkov-based open joint-stock company (OJSC) Turboatom and Elektrotyazhmash (Electrical and Mechanical Engineering) Plant intend to launch joint ventures in Tajikistan, the Elektrotyazhmash director Vitaly Cherednik told reporters in Kharkov on November 9, according to Ukrainian media.

According to him, an agreement on this subject was reached during a visit of a delegation of the Kharkov region to Tajikistan in late October this year.  “We, in particular, plan to launch an enterprise jointly with the repair-and-engineering works based in the city of Vahdat,” said Cherednik, “This plant is a state-controlled enterprise and a joint work will allow us participating in tenders for concluding contracts in the energy sphere.”

Joint ventures may be launched at other Tajik plants as well as; for example, in Dushanbe.  “Tajik authorities approved this idea because it will create new jobs in the country,” said Cherednik, “The Kharkov plants will be able to get into the energy market of the whole Central Asian region.”

He added that one of objectives of the Kharkov plants would be in creating a network of small and medium-sized hydropower plants in Central Asia’s states, for example, in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, as well as in Pakistan, Afghanistan and China.

State-owned industrial giants, such as Turboatom and Elektrotyazhmash   occupy 17% of the heavy power equipment construction (e.g., turbines) market worldwide.