In 2025, 87 industrial enterprises ceased operations in Tajikistan, according to Minister of Industry and New Technologies Sherali Kabir, who outlined the reasons for the closures and presented key industry indicators at a press conference.
Kabir described the suspension of activity at certain production facilities as “one of the ongoing issues.” The ministry is working with each enterprise individually, noting that “every job is important for the state management system.” Nevertheless, some companies were shut down, including at the initiative of the ministry.
Among the main reasons cited were zero production indicators and changes in organizational and legal status. The minister also pointed to discrepancies between statistical and tax reporting.
“This enterprise is registered as three enterprises in tax accounting and as one enterprise in statistics. This should not be the case,” Kabir said.
He paid particular attention to cotton-processing enterprises. According to the minister, a number of small factories relied on outdated technologies and “had a negative impact” on the sector.
“The fiber length at foreign enterprises processing our cotton is different. However, about 120 cotton ginning enterprises located in the Khatlon region, unfortunately, had a negative impact,” Kabir said.
The ministry, together with other agencies, established a special commission and proposed that these enterprises cease operations.
At the same time, the total production capacity of Tajikistan’s cotton ginning enterprises is estimated at 2.4 million tons, while actual processing volumes amount to around 500,000 tons. According to the minister, most enterprises have not properly established efficient operations.
As an alternative, authorities are considering the creation of technology parks on the sites of former enterprises. The proposal is currently under government review. Kabir stressed that closures or changes in legal status should not be viewed exclusively in negative terms.
As of January 1, 2026, Tajikistan had 3,972 registered industrial enterprises employing 92,927 people.
