DUSHANBE (TCA) — Despite the negative impact of external factors on Tajikistan’s economy, the country’s GDP grew six percent in 2015, Tajik Prime Minister Qohir Rasulzoda said on January 21 at the expanded meeting of the Government of Tajikistan that reviewed the results of the country’s social and economic development in 2015 and the main objectives for 2016, the Tajik presidential press service reported.
The meeting of the Government, chaired by Tajik President Emomali Rakhmon, focused on ways to reduce the negative impact of external factors on the Tajik economy, increase domestic production and export potential, create new jobs, fulfill the state budget, and reduce non-priority expenditures.
In his address to the Tajik parliament on January 20, President Rakhmon said that despite the negative influence of the world financial and economic crisis, in 2015 inflation in Tajikistan was at 5 percent, the poverty level reduced to 31 percent, and per capita GDP grew 3.8 percent.
The above indicators helped to improve the demographic situation in the country and the population’s health, which resulted in the average life expectancy increase up to 73.5 years. The maternity and infant mortality rates significantly decreased in 2015 compared to the previous years, the president said.
Last year the government’s programs helped to create 205 thousand new jobs.
In 2015, Tajikistan’s public debt made up 27.9 percent of GDP, a relatively moderate level.
Last year Tajikistan’s external trade lowered by 18 percent compared to 2014, including a 9-percent decrease in exports and 20-percent decrease in imports, the president said.
