DUSHANBE, June 26, 2013, Asia-Plus -- Enhancing cross border trade between Tajikistan and Afghanistan was the topic of a roundtable discussion hosted by the OSCE Office in Tajikistan on June 25.

According to the OSCED Office, participants explored opportunities for more efficient and secure trade between communities on both sides of the Tajik-Afghan border.  They discussed the findings of the OSCE-funded analysis of current patterns of trade at cross-border markets in the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region and ways to support traders through cross border resource centers.

“If managed and developed appropriately, the community-based cross border trade between Tajikistan and its neighbors has the potential to address some of the most acute regional food security and economic development challenges, while improving transboundary community relations.  Today’s discussion can contribute to the state policy on trade facilitation and help find solutions to barriers to trade identified by the relevant stakeholders in the country,” said George Sand, Economic Officer at the OSCE Office in Tajikistan.

The event brought together key officials from the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade, Customs Service and Border Guards, while the association of entrepreneurs Milal-Inter and the public foundation Najoti Kudakon represented the views of the private sector and civil society.  Key donor agencies involved in trade promotion attended and contributed to the discussions.