The Gorno Badakhshan Autonomous Region (GBAO) governor Shodikhon Jamshed has outlined sectors like tourism, mining and energy as areas that could promote economic development of the region.

The GBAO budget has three main possible sources that could help Gorno Badakhshan stop being dependent on government subsidies, GBAO governor Shodikhon Jamshed told reporters in Khorog, the capital of Gorno Badakhshan, on February 28.

“One of such sources is tourism.  This sector does not require large investments and can bring additional incomes to the budget in a short space of time,” Jamshed said.

According to him, more than 400,000 tourists visited Tajikistan last year, and only about 3,000 of them visited GBAO.  “If to bring this figure to 100,000, count how much profit we can get,” the governor said.

The second source to replenish the budget could be mining, he noted.  “Proper laws have been adopted for development of this sector.  Last year the government gave permission for development of 17 deposits of alluvial gold and initiatives and efforts of residents of the region are needed for development of these deposits,” Jamshed noted.  

He outlined the region’s water-and-energy resources as the third factor that could promote economic development of Gorno Badakhshan.  “According to expert estimates, our water-and-energy resources amount to 6.7 billion kWh.  Today, the region uses only 171 million KWh,” the governor said.