Tajikistan willing to boost economic ties with Turkey

YAYINLAMA
GÜNCELLEME


President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon yesterday attended the Turkey-Tajikistan Business and Trade Forum which was organized by the Turkish Confederation of Businessmen and Industrialists (TUSKON) in the central Anatolian province of Konya. Speaking on the sidelines of the forum, Rahmon said that there were 53 Turkish companies operating in Tajikistan and highlands of Tajikistan were very rich in precious metals, and also expressed frustration that Turkish companies are not dealing with mining there. "The cooperation between the two countries is important and also appropriate for development in various fields. We need new technologies and foreign capital," Rahmon said. Stating that relations between the two countries gained a new dimension, after Tajikistan has gained its independence, Rahmon said, "The parties are exerting special efforts to further improve these relations. We will be meeting with the highest authorities of this country. We believe that today's forum will be a good beginning." Rahmon also underlined that Turkey was among the four countries sharing the highest commercial ties with Tajikistan, adding, "Our trade with Turkey now approximately amounts to $600 billion. This figure has increased by $180 million since 2010. This figure is far from meeting our demand. This is by tens of times lower than our capacity." Speaking for his part, Deputy Prime Minister Bekir Bozdag said that Turkey and Tajikistan were friendly and brotherly two countries sharing deep historical and cultural ties. Stating that Turkey attaches great importance to its relations with Tajikistan, Bozdag said that the two countries should take new steps, boost the cooperation in every field and act in solidarity with each other. Underlining that Turkey is ready to cooperate with Tajikistan in every field, Bozdag added, "Our trade volume amounted to $447.5 million in the first ten months of the year. This figure corresponds to an increase by 15 percent, compared to the same period of last year."