DUSHANBE, April 18, 2016, Asia-Plus -- A group of Russian businesspeople and light industry specialists is visiting Tajikistan from April 18-23 to get acquainted with Tajik textile and clothing companies and discuss cooperation issues, according to the International Trade Center (ITC) Tajikistan.

The business-tour is organized under the International Trade Centre (ITC)’s project funded by the Government of Switzerland within its Trade Cooperation Program (TCP) in Tajikistan in cooperation with the Textilexpo exhibition organization and RIA Moda news agency.

The Russian delegation reportedly includes owners of factories with interest in purchasing cotton yarns, knitted fabrics, and other textile and clothing products; representatives of wholesale companies and retail networks, interested in production outsourcing; textile equipment providers; as well as Textilexpo and RIA Moda representatives. 

The tour has started in Khujand, where the delegation is visiting Ortex, Rahimov A.A., Leader, RBT Tojikiston, Firouz, and Nassoji Khujand.

Visiting Nohid in Istaravshan, Olim Textile in Mastchoh, KHIMA–Textile, and Vahdat in Yovon, as well as Nafisa, Guliston, and Yokut-2000 in Dushanbe is also in the program.

During visits to the companies, the delegation familiarizes itself with production and working conditions.  The tour program also includes meetings with representatives of the related ministries and the local government of Sughd province.

On April 22, an extended business meeting of textile and clothing circles of Tajikistan and the Russian Federation is planned in Dushanbe.

The business-tour is reportedly organized upon huge interest showed by Russian entrepreneurs in Tajik producers during the Tajikistan/Kyrgyzstan – Russia Light Industry Business Forum held on February 16 in Moscow in the framework of the Textillegprom trade fair.

The present project is component FOUR of the Trade Cooperation Program (TCP) in Tajikistan and aims to increase the export competitiveness of the textile and clothing (T&C) sector, by providing sector specific support to SMEs and relevant trade support institutions (TSIs), as well as supporting respective stakeholders in taking a strategic approach to the sector’s development.  It will also explore the challenges and development potential of the tourism and handicraft sectors in Tajikistan, outlining relevant trade related technical assistance priorities.

Within its Cooperation Strategy for 2012-2015, Switzerland focuses on four sectors in Tajikistan; Health, Rule of Law, Drinking Water Supply and Sanitation, and Private Sector Development.  The overall goal of Swiss Cooperation in Tajikistan is to support the transition process in the country through contributing to economic development and by helping build institutions and systems which are responsive to the population’s needs. www.eda.admin.ch, www.seco.admin.ch