DUSHANBE, January 22, 2013, Asia-Plus  -- Issues related to launching a joint textile enterprise were a major topic of a meeting of Tajik Minister of Energy and Industries Gul Sherali with China’s Ambassador to Tajikistan Fan Xianrong that took place here on January 21, according to the Ministry of Energy and Industries (MoEI).

An official source at a MoEI says it will be Tajikistan’s largest textile enterprise provided with the state-of-the art equipment for processing cotton into manufactured goods (yarn, cloths, and apparel).

In the course of the talks, Tajik minister reportedly noted that all necessary conditions had been created in Tajikistan for launching joint ventures and attracting investments – proper legal foundation providing for protection of investors, allotment of lands for construction of enterprises, cheap manpower and electricity, and necessary reserves of raw materials, in particular cotton fiber.

Last year alone, Tajikistan yielded more than 417,000 tons of raw cotton and more than 134,000 of cotton fiber was produced from it.

“Of those more than 134,000 tons of cotton fiber, only little more 10,200 tons of cotton fiber of 7.7 percent was processed into manufactured goods in Tajikistan, while the remainder was exported for manufacturing outside the country,” said the source.  “It means that newly launched enterprises will be provided with enough raw materials.”

According to him, a full cotton processing program designed for the period until 2015 has already been working in the country.  This program reportedly provides for construction of new enterprises, including joint ventures.