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U.S. Embassy in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, Public Affairs Section, Press Releases and Washington File Distribution

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October 14, 2005

JOINT STATEMENT ON ECONOMIC ISSUES

The President of the Republic of Tajikistan His Excellency Emomali Rahmonov and the Secretary of State Ms. Condoleezza Rice discussed a number of economic reform measures.

They identified the following areas for improvement:

· The Secretary agreed to help promote regional trade with all of Tajikistan’s neighbors, and noted that the Tajik-Afghan bridge will be a major conduit for goods and the exchange of people and ideas.

· Taking into consideration that Tajikistan is a mountainous country with more than 93 percent of its territory considered mountainous, the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan expressed its readiness to take all measures to develop mountainous and other forms of tourism. For this the Government agreed to continue the process of instituting the necessary legislative requirements.

· The Government of the Republic of Tajikistan agreed to promote flights in and out of Tajikistan by a Western carrier to promote business, tourism and trade.

· Development of small and medium size business is a strategic aim of the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan. Taking this into consideration, the Government has agreed to provide business-friendly conditions to promote small and medium size business in Tajikistan by eliminating all obstacles hindering this process.

· The Government of the Republic of Tajikistan will renew efforts, working with international experts and donors, to solve the agricultural debt problem.

· The Secretary agreed to highlight Tajikistan’s possibilities for American investors in the sectors of mining, agriculture, hydropower and tourism.

· The Government of the Republic of Tajikistan, expressing its gratitude to the Government of the United States of America for the provision of humanitarian assistance, wishes to shift the focus of cooperation from humanitarian assistance to the economic development of Tajikistan.