The Tajik authorities pledge to complete construction of the Rogun Hydroelectric Power Plant without Russian Aluminium's help

Avesta News Agency reported that Dushanbe will host the 32^nd Session of CIS Electric Energy Council. The session will focus on establishment and progress of the common information environment in the energy sector. The session’s agenda also includes issues related to prospects for electric energy cooperation, improvement of the legal and regulatory framework, cooperation in the science and research. According to the Tajikistan Ministry of Energy and Industry Chairman of RAO UES Anatoly Chubais is expected to take part in the session. back to headlines

Tajik Foreign Minister Zarifi on EU-Tajik cooperation

Asia Plus news agency reported that on October 25, 2007 Tajikistan Foreign Minister Hamrokhon Zarifi met with Ambassadors of EU countries in Tajikistan. Minister Zarifi noted that in the past cooperation between Tajikistan and EU countries was humanitarian, and that Tajikistan seeks to expand bilateral relations. Minister Zarifi promoted energy projects (hydropower) in Tajikistan. back to headlines

Tajik and Austrian Chambers of Commerce discuss cooperation

Avesta and Asia Plus agencies reported that Mr. Sharif Said, Chairman of the Tajik Chamber of Commerce and Industry met with his counterpart, Stephan Ebner, representative of the Austrian Chamber of Commerce. The parties discussed opportunities for Austrian companies in the mining, agribusiness, housing, and tourism sectors in Tajikistan. back to headlines

Tajikistan resumes production of cotton seeds

Asia Plus news agency reported that the Minister of Agriculture and Environmental Protection, Mr. Abdurahmon Qodiri, told the journalists at a press conference that Tajikistan resumed breed production of cotton seeds. According to Minister three laboratories are set up in Qabodien (Khatlon region), Spitamen (Sughd region) and Tursuzonda (Central region) for these purposes. According to Minister, earlier this year 13 species were brought from six different countries for testing purposes. “The results have exceeded all expectations; separate species brought from Australia, the United States, Turkey and Brazil have provided yields at the rate of 5.0-5.8 tons per hectare.” Cotton-fiber yield amounted to 40.0-42.5%. The minister also pointed out that lack of agricultural machinery and equipment is one of the main issues for the Tajik agribusiness industry. back to headlines

Tajik Agro Leasing is established to provide agricultural machinery and equipment

Asia Plus news agency reported that the Minister of Agriculture and Environmental Protection, Mr. Abdurahmon Qodiri, told the journalists at a press conference that a State Owned Enterprise “Tajik Agro Leasing” was recently established to improve the situation with lack of agricultural machinery and equipment. According to the Minister, national budget is expected to provide 8 million Somoni (approx. $2.3m) for equipment and machinery procurements in 2008. The Minister also noted that Tajik Agro Leasing will establish business relations with manufacturing and leasing companies in CIS, China and Iran. back to headlines

Privatization deal of Tajikhimprom Joint Stock Company is cancelled

Asia Plus news agency reported that the Government of Tajikistan cancelled an individual privatization project for Joint Stock Company Tajikhimprom – largest chemical production plant in southern Tajikistan producing caustic soda, liquid chlorine, chloride of lime, calcium hypochlorite and other chemical goods. Tajikhimprom was going to be privatized by U.K. based Enjik Chemical Company which submitted its bid in July 2007. Under the agreement with the Government of Tajikistan, Enjik Chemical Company was going to acquire Tajikhimprom for 10 million Somoni (approx. $3m). Tajihimprom has 25 million Somoni in debts (approx. $7.25m), with authorized capital of 15.3 million Somoni (approx. $4.4m). back to headlines

BELAZ (Belorussian Auto Enterprise) established a subsidiary company in Tajikistan

Tajik Chamber of Commerce and Industry reported that BELAZ established a subsidiary company in Tajikistan to provide after-sales services for its equipment. According to the source BELAZ equipment is used at construction of 670MW Sangtuda-I hydroelectric power plant in southern Tajikistan. back to headlines

2007 Cotton harvest update

Asia Plus news agency reported that as of October 11, 2007 some 331,000 tons of cotton are yielded, 61% of the 547,000 tons target for 2007. According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Environmental Protection distribution of targets be region is the following: Khatlon region - 330,500 tons (60%); Sughd region – 171,300 (31%) and districts of national subordination – 48,200 (9%). In 2006 Tajikistan produced 440,000 tons of cotton, 80% of the 547,000 tons target. back to headlines

Tajikistan and Turkmenistan signed 9 documents on cooperation

According to Avesta News Agency, Tajikistan President Emomali Rahmon met with his Turkmen counterpart Gurbanguly Berdymuhammedov. The sides discussed prospects of Tajik-Turkmen relations. Presidents also talked about economic and political cooperation, in particular the supply of 1 bln kWh of electric power from Turkmenistan to Tajikistan. The agreement on power supplies was achieved amid this year. Following their tête-à-tête talks, the sides are scheduled to sign nine documents on socio-economic and cultural cooperation. back to headlines

Russian vice Prime Minister: Russia interested in construction of Rogun power plant

Avesta News Agency reported that large Russian companies have expressed their willingness to partake in the construction of Rogun hydropower plant in Tajikistan; this was said by Russian vice Prime Minister Sergey Naryshkin following his meeting with Tajikistan’s President Emomali Rahmon. “Practical implementation of the given project is very important for both Tajikistan and the entire Central Asian region,” he said. back to headlines

Government of Tajikistan to allocate $30mln for construction of Rogun hydropower plant in 2008

Avesta News Agency reported that Government of Tajikistan will allocate $30 mln for construction of the Rogun hydropower plant in 2008, according to Head of the Tajik Finance Ministry’s Budget Department Narzullo Habibullaev. The state budget for 2008 will be in the amount of 4.4 billion Somoni (approx. $1.3bln). back to headlines

Foreign Trade statistics update

According to Avesta News Agency, Ministry of Finance said that foreign trade turnover of Tajikistan in January-September of 2007 amounted to $2.7bn, up 24% on year-to-year basis. back to headlines

Electric power generation up, exports remain low

Avesta News Agency reported that according to Barqi Tojik (joint stock electric utility company) that its subsidiaries generated more than 13.2bn kWh of electricity in January-September 2007, up by 279.4m kWh on year-to-year basis. According to State Statistics Committee more than 350mln kWh of electricity was exported in January-September 2007; electricity trade is less than 5% of the total foreign trade volume. back to headlines

More than 40 international construction companies participated in construction exhibit in Dushanbe

Avesta News Agency reported that the Fourth International Construction Exhibit “Tajik Build 2007” was held in Dushanbe. The event was organized by ITECA Osiyo, ITE Group’s subsidiary in Tajikistan. The Exhibit was attended by more than 40 international companies from Germany, Italy, Poland, Kazakhstan, China, Russia and Ukraine. Several local companies participated as well. back to headlines

Company News: Tajik Railway

Avesta News Agency reported that Tajik Railway State Owned Enterprise reported its results for January-September 2007. According to the source at Tajik Railway, the company transported more than 10.6m tons of cargo, up 0.6m tons on year-to-year basis. According to Tajik Railways, the company acquired 32 new freight and 28 passenger cars; six diesel-powered locomotives, 71 passenger and 123 freight cars were repaired. The company invested approximately $11m to repairs its fleet. back to headlines

Inflation rate update

Avesta News Agency, referring to State Statistics Committee, reported that inflation in January-September equaled 12.4%; the estimated inflation rate for 2007 was 7%. Price indexes for food commodities are up by 15.2%; price index for non-food commodities is up by 3.8%. Increasing consumer spending and rise of tariffs for utilities contributed to inflation of prices. back to headlines

International Finance Corporation to open an office in Tajikistan

Asia Plus News Agency reported the International Finance Corporation (member of The World Bank Group) will open its office in Tajikistan. The agreement on this was signed by Vice President of Risk Management of the International Finance Corporation, Michael Maila, and Tajik Foreign Minister Hamrokhon Zarifi. back to headlines

RAO UES CEO Chubais met with President Rahmon

Khovar, National Information Agency of Tajikistan reported that UES CEO Chubais met with President Rahmon on October 12, 2007. The meeting was focused on Tajik-Russian relations in the electric energy sector. CEO Chubais reported to President Rahmon that the first generating unit of Sangtuda-I hydropower station will go online in December 2007. The remaining four generating units will be installed one per every quarter. back to headlines

Co-Chairman of the Tajik-India Trade and Economic Cooperation Commission met with Prime Minister Akilov

Khovar, National Information Agency reported that Mr. Shri Pillai, India’s First Deputy Minister of Trade and Co-Chairman of the Tajik-India Trade and Economic Cooperation Commission met with Prime Minister Akilov. According to Khovar, the meeting was focused on expanding bilateral trade and economic cooperation in construction, hydropower, mining and agribusiness sectors. back to headlines

RAO UES CEO Anatoly Chubais Will Chair Meeting of the CIS Electric Power Council

According to the web-site of RAO UES, on October 11, 2007, Chairman of the Management Board of RAO "UES of Russia" Anatoly Chubais fled to Tajikistan's capital Dushanbe to chair the 32nd Meeting of the CIS Electric Power Council* scheduled for 12 October.

The Meeting focused on the progress made in drafting proposals on the phases for the creation of a common electricity market in the CIS member countries. The Meeting participants heard a progress report on the efforts to synchronize Armenia's and Turkmenistan's energy systems with those of the other CIS countries and discussed the possibility and conditions of creation of the Russia-Azerbaijan-Georgia-Russia Energy Ring.

They also discussed the preparations being made in the CIS countries' energy systems for the 2007/2008 winter period, and the development of a feasibility study for synchronous interconnection of the CIS and Baltic's' energy systems with the UCTE energy pool. back to headlines

* The CIS Electric Power Council was created on 14 February 1992. The primary objective of the CIS EPC is to coordinate the efforts to ensure stable and reliable power supply to industries and households of the CIS Member States through enhanced efficiency of the interconnected electricity systems. Chairman of the Management Board of RAO "UES of Russia" Anatoly Chubais has been President of the CIS Electric Power Council since 2000.

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