DUSHANBE, April 27, 2010, Asia-Plus  -- Foreign investors are not well aware of the investment climate in Tajikistan and this impedes attraction of foreign capital for development of the country’s economy, Davlatali Saidov, the head of the State Committee for Investments and State-owned Property Management (GosKomInvest), remarked at a news conference in Dushanbe on April 27.

According to him, the majority of potential foreign investors do not have full information about the investment climate in Tajikistan.  “Besides, Tajikistan should improve in global ranking (Doing Business),” said Saidov, “Tajikistan also ought to bring its infrastructure in compliance with international standards””

However, investment flow into the country have increased from year to year despite some problems, he said.  “Over the first three months of this year alone, investments for a total amount f 100 million somoni have come into the country,” Saidov noted.

He also noted that a large number of taxes impeded development of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the country.  “Heavy tax burden is one the main problems impeding development of SMEs in Tajikistan and is breeding ground for development of shadow economy,” the GosKomInvest head said.

Saidov added that GosKomInvest was currently closely cooperating with international organizations to improve the business environment in the country and cancel some types of taxes.