DUSHANBE (TCA) — As part of his official visit to France, President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon met with the French business community representatives to discuss Tajik–French trade and economic cooperation, the president’s press service reported on November 8.

The chair of the Tajik-French Business Council opened the event.

While noting the necessity of expanding the intergovernmental cooperation in promising sectors such as hydropower, transit infrastructure, light, food and chemical industries, mechanical engineering, ferrous and non-ferrous metallurgy as well as processing of healthy agricultural products and tourism, President Rahmon referred to the meeting as an important factor for the development of the relationship between the two friendly countries.

Currently 20 French companies are successfully operating in Tajikistan. The opening of the French Development Agency in Tajikistan would be another facilitating factor in propelling trade and economic relations between the two countries’ businesses.

During the meeting with leading businessmen and investors, Tajikistan’s rich natural resources, such as water, precious stones, ferrous and non-ferrous metals, minerals, agricultural industry, and the cultivation of high-quality fruits, vegetables and cotton were presented as profitable areas of cooperation. The French entrepreneurs and investors were invited to visit Tajikistan to familiarize themselves with its ample opportunities.

Following the meeting the following new documents on cooperation were signed:

– MoU on cooperation between Tajikistan’s State Unitary Enterprise (SUE) Tojinvest and MEDEF International, France.

– Agreement on cooperation between Tajik Aluminium Company (TALCO) and Fives Group in the amount of € 200 million, with €52 million for reconstruction of the anode production line at the first stage. (The anode production line was built 45 years ago by Fives Group.)

– A tripartite agreement on cooperation between TALCO, Fives Group and the German company RIEDHAMMER for the import of modern technology for the reconstruction of TALCO’s anode production line.

– An agreement on cooperation between the Airbus and Somon Air on the import of helicopters.

– An agreement on cooperation between the Laboratoire INNOTECH International and SIFAT PHARMA.

– An agreement on cooperation between the Amid and the Shiver Group on the creation of a shopping center in the Bobojon Ghafurov district of Sughd, Tajikistan.

BISHKEK (TCA) — The fourth Aarhus Centre in Kyrgyzstan officially opened on November 5 in Naryn. The new Centre is part of the co-operation between the OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek and the University of Central Asia.

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TASHKENT (TCA) — U.S. Ambassador to Uzbekistan Daniel Rosenblum on November 7 participated in a signing ceremony for a Memorandum of Understanding to formalize joint public health education and scientific research between the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Department of Health and Human Services of the United States of America, and the Tashkent Medical Academy, representing the Ministry of Health of Uzbekistan, the U.S. Embassy in Tashkent said.

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DUSHANBE (TCA) — Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) President Jamie Fly has called on Tajikistan’s leader to ensure that the right of Tajik audiences to receive objective news and reporting are respected and that Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty journalists in the Central Asian country can work freely and without intimidation, RFE/RL reported.

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ASHGABAT (TCA) — A business forum which gathered together representatives of business circles, government organizations and private structures of Turkmenistan and Italy took place in Milan on November 6 as part of the official visit of Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov to Italy, the State News Agency of Turkmenistan reported.

The Trade Agency of the Ministry of Commerce of Italy and Trade and Industrial Chamber and the Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs of Turkmenistan were the hosts of the event under the aegis of foreign departments of the two countries.

The forum was opened by General Director of the Trade Agency of the Ministry of Commerce of the Republic of Italy Roberto Luongo, who said that subjects of the forum are not limited by export-import relations but also spread to the study of wide opportunities of cooperation. At the same time, Mr. Luongo pointed out significant growth of trade between Turkmenistan and Italy by the outcomes of the first half of 2019.

Mr. Luongo said that the current meeting has to be continued during a return visit to Ashgabat next year.

Vice-President of Lombardy Region of Italy Fabricio Sala also made a greeting speech at the forum, saying that the forum gives good opportunities for study of future cooperation. Being one of the rapidly developing economies of Central Asia with huge natural resources, Turkmenistan represents huge economic potential for establishment of trade and investment relations, he said.

As of today, 22 investment projects to a total amount of around 13 million US dollars and 16 companies with Italian capital operate in Turkmenistan.

Signing of bilateral documents took place as a result of the Turkmen–Italian business forum. In particular, 12 memorandums and agreements were signed in the diplomatic field, energy industry and transport spheres, textile industry, as well as in the banking sector, healthcare and education.

In addition, 11 contracts were signed by Turkmen businessmen with different Italian companies, including for supply of equipment and technological lines for import substitutive production facilities.

KABUL (TCA) — Pakistan continues to view the Afghan Taliban as “a relatively friendly and reliably anti-India element in Afghanistan”, according to a US Congressional Research Service report titled “Afghanistan: Background and US Policy in Brief”, Afghan broadcaster TOLOnews reported.

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