Tajikistan Business Economy - The Times Of Central Asia

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Kazakhstan and Tajikistan Plan to Double Trade to $2 Billion

On 30 April, talks held in Dushanbe between Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Olzhas Bektenov and Prime Minister of Tajikistan Kokhir Rasulzoda focused on Kazakh-Tajik cooperation in trade and investment, industrial cooperation, agriculture, transport connectivity, water, and energy. Kazakhstan is Tajikistan's fourth largest trading partner and with the aim to double bilateral trade to $2 billion, Kazakhstan announced its readiness to increase exports of 85 commodities worth about $190 million. Both governments stressed the importance of developing industrial cooperation by creating new export-oriented joint ventures, with specific reference to Kazakhstan’s large production capacity of equipment for Tajik railways, including electric and diesel locomotives, in addition to locally manufactured transformers, agricultural machinery, batteries and motor vehicles. An important issue on the bilateral agenda is cooperation in the water sector and the need for joint action to ensure the smooth operation of Tajikistan’s Bakhri Tojik reservoir during the growing season. In further discussions on agricultural cooperation, both parties noted that in January-February, bilateral trade of agricultural products totalled $84.9 million, an increase of 8.9 percent compared to the same period in 2023. Future plans include increasing Kazakh wheat and flour exports to Tajikistan, and creating joint ventures for flour milling and processing of livestock products.

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Wages in Uzbekistan Continue to Rise in Early 2024

According to the Uzbek Statistics Agency, as of the end of the first quarter of 2024, the average monthly nominal salary in Uzbekistan reached $389. This translates to an increase of almost 20% compared to the same period last year. Average wages are among the highest in the capital of Tashkent ($640) and the Navoi region ($514). Workers in the banking, insurance, credit and professional services spheres earn the most, at $1,043 per month. In the IT sector, Uzbeks earn $925 on average. The lowest wages are traditionally paid to workers in education and healthcare; in the first quarter of 2024, their salaries averaged $269 and $253, respectively. Since 2019, average salaries in Uzbekistan have increased from $183 to $389. For 2023, all Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) countries saw an increase in average monthly wages. The highest rates of growth were recorded in Armenia and Belarus. Average wages in the CIS countries in 2023 were as follows (based on state statistics): 1. Tajikistan - 2,013.11 somoni ($183) 2. Uzbekistan - 4.5 million som ($360) 3. Turkmenistan - 1,200 manat ($360) 4. Kyrgyzstan - 33,664 som ($376) 5. Azerbaijan - 942 manat ($550) 6. Belarus - 1,991.2 rubles ($616.50) 7. Armenia - 266,990 dram ($660) 8. Russia - 73,709 rubles ($805) 9. Kazakhstan - 393,605 tenge ($874)

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EBRD Helps Improve Dushanbe’s Environment and Support Tajikistan’s Banking Sector

During a visit by Odile Renaud-Basso, President of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development to Tajikistan, on 29-30 April, the EBRD committed funds to upgrade Dushanbe's infrastructure, develop sustainable transportation solutions , and support for women’s entrepreneurship. The EBRD’s loan of up to €28.45 million will help improve transportation in the city’s riverside area through the reconstruction of roads and a bridge across the Varzob River, as well as the construction of dedicated bus and trolleybus lanes, and purpose-built routes for walking, cycling, electric wheelchairs etc. “We are very pleased to sign this project with the authorities of Dushanbe,” commented EBRD's president. “They have been committed to the green agenda ever since the city joined the EBRD Green Cities programme in 2019.” The Dushanbe Green City Action Plan was developed in collaboration with the EBRD to address environmental and development issues affecting the 800, 000 residents of Tajikistan’s largest municipality. Investment to promote a strategic shift from carbon-intensive, traditional transportation towards more eco-friendly, sustainable alternatives, aims to reduce annual carbon dioxide emissions by 37 percent. Joined by the Chairman of the National Bank of Tajikistan, Firdavs Nazrimad Tolibzoda, Renaud-Basso then signed a memorandum of understanding to support the country’s development of the Women Entrepreneurs Finance Code. Representing providers of financial services, regulators, development banks and other stakeholders, the WE Financial Code was formed to increase financial assistance to women-led micro, small and medium enterprises, and as a globally accepted multi-stakeholder approach, help eliminate constraints and gaps in financing women entrepreneurs in Tajikistan. The EBRD has now provided fresh funds and created new growth opportunities for women-owned and managed businesses in Tajikistan. Under the auspices of its Women in Business (WiB) programme for Central Asia, a loan of US$ 5 million (€4.6 million) has been granted to one of the country’s largest lenders, Bank Arvand, alongside technical assistance to help the bank promote women’s entrepreneurship and business activity. In addition, and under the EBRD’s Trade Facilitation Programme, a limited loan of US$ 1 million (€0.9 million) was offered to country’s leading microlenders, MDO HUMO, to help local clients both import goods, services, and equipment, and export their products.

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U.S. to Restrict Firearms Exports to Central Asian Countries

From the end of May the U.S. will restrict exports of all firearms to non-government entities in high-risk countries, including Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan and Tajikistan, according to a statement from the U.S. Department of Commerce. According to the statement, the Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) has issued a regulation “amending the Department’s licensing policy for exports of firearms, ammunition, and related components under its jurisdiction.” The decision concerns export to non-governmental organizations. Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan and Tajikistan are among 36 countries included on the list of high-risk nations. As part of the new changes to the regulations, the administration is also shortening the validity period of arms export licenses to one year from four years. The changes are aimed at reducing the risk of increasing instability in the regions of the world through the illicit use of American weapons.

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US Embassy Boosts Preservation of Tajikistan’s Ancient City

On April 26, U.S. Ambassador to Tajikistan Manuel P. Micaller, Jr. attended the celebration of the restoration of the Silk Road’s ancient city of Panjakent. Located in Tajikistan’s Sughd region and dating back to the 5th century, it is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Financed by the U.S. Ambassador’s Fund for Cultural Preservation (AFCP) program, the U.S. Embassy awarded a grant of $186,766 to the Public Organization Javononi Peshsaf for the preservation and restoration of four of Panjakent’s key archaeological structures: the Zoroastrian temple, and corner tower-defensive wall, both constructed between the 5th-8th centuries; the defensive wall, dating back to the early fifth century, and the ceremonial hall Rustamiada, built between the 7th-8th centuries. The ancient Panjakent archeological site project, implemented by Javononi Peshsaf, in close cooperation with local authorities and the Archeological Base of Panjakent and Sarazm, offers significant potential to increasing international tourism and academic interest, and in the words of the ambassador, “boost local economy and improve the prosperity of the Tajik people.” The site which illustrates the history of Sogdians, provides a unique and rare insight into life in Central Asia during the fifth to eighth centuries. After years of being buffered by the elements, the site once carefully restored with traditional materials, including mud bricks and mortar and clay plaster, is now being preserved for generations to come. In his address, Ambassador Micaller stated, “I am honoured and proud to celebrate our partnership to preserve the ancient city of Panjakent. For the U.S. Embassy, supporting the restoration of this ancient Silk Road city is one of the most meaningful ways we can express our respect for, and appreciation of, Tajikistan’s rich history and culture.”

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Central Asian Countries Set 2024 Quotas for Amu Darya, Syr Darya River Water Usage

Last week in Kazakhstan, delegates came together for the 87th meeting of the Interstate Commission for Water Coordination (ICWC) of Central Asia, where they discussed the potential and limitations of regional water reservoirs ahead of the 2023-2024 agricultural growing season. According to the ICWC, some of the more pressing questions focused on confirming limits of water usage for the 2024 growing season for the Syr Darya and Amu Darya river basins and the prognosis for water release from the reservoirs in those basins. There's still no information on how much water will be sent to the Aral Sea basin. In accordance with the quota, the draw on water from the Amu Darya watershed will be 56 billion cubic meters for the year, with about 40 billion cubic meters to be used in the April-to-October growing season. As stated in the ICWC agreement, Uzbekistan will receive 16 billion cubic meters, Turkmenistan 15.5 billion cubic meters, and Tajikistan will get 6.9 billion cubic meters. The Syr Darya's water use quota for this year's growing season is around 11.9 billion cubic meters, with 8.8 billion cubic meters going to Uzbekistan, 1.9 billion cubic meters for Tajikistan, 920 million cubic meters for Kazakhstan, and 270 million cubic meters for Kyrgyzstan. According to the ICWC, the totals for irrigated lands by Central Asian country are 4.3 million hectares in Uzbekistan, 2.5 million hectares in Kazakhstan, 1.9 million hectares in Turkmenistan, 1 million hectares in Kyrgyzstan, and 680,000 in Tajikistan.