DUSHANBE, January 28, 2010, Asia-Plus -- Dushanbe’s external trade turnover significantly decreased last year, First Deputy Dushanbe Mayor, Marouf Sayfiyev, told reporters on January 27.

According to him, the city’s exports amounted to 17 million U.S dollars in 2009, which is 1.2 million U.S. dollars fewer than in 2008.  Imports into Dushanbe over the report period amounted to 271 million U.S. dollars, which is 115.7 million U.S. dollars fewer than in 2008 (in 2008, imports into the Tajik capital amounted to 387.2 million U.S. dollars).

In 2009, Dushanbe’s gross domestic product exceeded 3.452 billion somoni, Sayfiyev said.  An average monthly wage increased in Dushanbe from 472 somoni in 2008 to 544 somoni in 2009.

“2.774 unemployed, with 52 percent of them being women, were officially registered in the Tajik capital last year,” said the deputy mayor, “In 2009, 2,700 officially registered unemployed received unemployment benefits of 339 somoni each.”