DUSHANBE, March 18, 2010, Asia-Plus  -- Mr. Ahmet Ataker, Trade Attaché, Turkish Embassy in Dushanbe, considers that to develop its textile industry Tajikistan needs to develop its energy potential.

According to him, many large Turkish companies are ready to build textile factories in Tajikistan, but it is necessary to develop the country’s energy sector in order to ensure regular electricity supplies to new factories.  “When our companies know that Tajikistan is experiencing electricity problems they abandon their plans to build plants and factories here,” said Mr. Ataker, “However, Turkish companies purchase cotton for manufacturing their products in Tajikistan.”

Turkish diplomat noted that large Turkish companies were interested in development of Tajikistan’s energy sector and ready to invest in construction of large hydropower facilities here, “if this issue is solved at the level of the governments of the two countries, of course.”

More than 30 Turkish companies now operate in Tajikistan.  In 2008, a two-way trade between Tajikistan and Turkey amounted to 500 million U.S. dollars, while last year, the Tajik-Turkish trade decreased by 200 million U.S. dollars due to the global financial crisis.