DUSHANBE, July 14, 2015, Asia-Plus -- Volumes of customs payments have reportedly fallen nearly 20 percent.

“Over the first six months of this year, customs payments have amounted to more than 1.6 billion somoni, which was 81.5 percent of the target,” Abdufattoh Ghoib, the head of the Customs Service, told reporters in Dushanbe on July 14.

According to him, some factors connected with foreign trade have affected the customs payments over the report period.

“Sanctions imposed by the Western countries on Russia, which is one of major trading partner of Tajikistan, instability of the exchange rate of the national currency, the somoni, as well rail tariff policy of some neighboring countries are among negative factors that have affected the customs payments,” Tajik chief customs officer noted.