Tajikistan invites India to invest in hydro power projects

Addressing businessmen at the inauguration of India-Tajikistan Business Forum in the presence of President Pratibha Patil , Tajikistan President Emomali Rahmon said his country was also ready to cooperate with India in the field of mining, pharmaceuticals, agriculture product processing and other new areas.

"Our bilateral cooperation is increasing over last years, however, we still have tremendous opportunities and unexhausted reserves of fruitful cooperation," Rahmon told the captains of industry from India.

The Tajik President said his country was ready and open to invite India and its businessmen to explore possibilities of investing in hydro power projects. He said his country along with Afghanistan and Pakistan would be very happy to support such projects.

Rahmon said his country was also interested in Indian companies participation in the proposed silver extraction project for which an international bid is to be launched.
Sharing the views of her Tajik counterpart, Patil said investors from India and Tajikistan can consider opportunities for bilateral investment in areas like agriculture, mining, transport, infrastructure, hydropower as well as health and education.

Though the trade grew nearly 40 per cent last year, Patil said the total volume of direct trade was still small at just around USD 30 million and cannot be overlooked. She said a number of small and medium Indian companies have opened operations in Dushanbe and some Indian investments have also been made in Tajikistan.

Agriculture, horticulture, fruits and vegetables, poultry and dairy are other areas where small and medium enterprises could flourish, she said. Indian businessmen addressing the Forum said that lack of air connectivity was hindering the growth of business relationship between the two countries.

Patil said that establishment of direct air link was an urgent requirement for enabling greater people to people contacts, development of tourism and attracting investment.
"This lack of connectivity is a gap that needs to be filled quickly," she said.