DUSHANBE, March 31 2012, Asia-Plus  -- A government session, presided over by President Emomali Rahmon, took place on March 30.

According to president’s official websites, Minister of Energy and Industries Gul Sherali reported on development of the country’s food industry.

The minister, in particular, noted that the number of industrial enterprises increased in the country from 64 in 1991 to 600 in 2010.  Over the past five years alone, some 400 new enterprises have been launched in the country that allowed creating 7,300 new jobs, Gul noted.

In 2011, enterprises of the food industry reportedly produced a total of more than 2.7 billion somoni worth of products, which is 43 times more than in 1996, the minister added.

Speaking at the meeting, the head of state urged to use all existing resources and opportunities to support development of private entrepreneurship, establishment of new industrial enterprises and technical modernization of the existing enterprises and creation of new jobs.

The meeting endorsed the national potato growing development program designed for 2012-2016 and the national diabetes prevention and treatment program designed for 2012-2017, the source said.