DUSHANBE, February 23, 2012, Asia-Plus  -- Minister of Economic Development and Trade Sharif Rahimzoda met here on February 22 with France’s Ambassador to Tajikistan Henry Zipper de Fabiani.

An official source at the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade (MoEDT) says the sides discussed a broad range of issue related to state ad prospects of further expansion of economic cooperation between Tajikistan and France.

Tajik minister reportedly outlined sectors like agriculture, energy, transportation, banking and tourism, as areas of which could drive the bilateral trade between the two countries.  Rahimzoda noted that foreign investments are needed for enhancement of those sectors of Tajikistan’s economy.

The sides also discussed a number of other issues being of mutual interest, the source said. 

According to data of the Agency for Statistics under the President of Tajikistan, trade between Tajikistan and France last year valued at little more than 2.5 million U.S. dollars, which was nearly 45 percent fewer than in 2010.  In 2011, Tajikistan’s exports to France were estimated at 16,000 U.S. dollars.