Commercial
News – Tajikistan
February 2004
Jamshed Rahmonberdiev, BISNIS Representative in Tajikistan
This Commercial News Update covers the following sectors:
Gas & Energy
Economy & Finance
Industry
Transport & Telecom
Legislation
Gas
& Energy
RECONSTRUCTION OF DUSHANBE ELECTRICAL NETWORKS
The Loan Agreement between Tajikistan and Kuwait Fund of the Arab
Economical
Development “Reconstruction of Electrical Networks of Dushanbe”
was ratified
by the Lower House of the Parliament on 11 February 2004. Minister
of Power
Engineering Mr. Jurabek Nurmahmadov mentioned that reconstruction
of city
networks are planned to be finished by 2006 creating more than 250
jobs.
Source: Asia Plus Newspaper
EXPORT
OF ENERGY TO RUSSIA
Ministry of Power Engineering in Tajikistan and representatives of
RAO UES
(Unified Energy Systems, JSC) have considered a draft agreement to
supply
electric power to Russia during summer season. Under this agreement
Tajikistan will supply 1.4 billion kWh of electricity generated by
Norak
Hydro Power Station. Both parties are negotiating pricing schedule
and
transit via Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan. Approximately 188 million kWh
of
electricity generated by Norak Hydro Power Station was supply to Russian
in
the summer and autumn of 2003.
Source: Asia Plus Newspaper
Economy
& Finance
“FIRST MICROFINANCE BANK” IN DUSHANBE
The First Microfinance Bank JSC founded by Aga Khan Economic and Social
Development Fund has started its work in Tajikistan in February 2004.
The
Bank will offer credit lines to the poor and those lacking opportunities
to
receive such credits from other sources. The Bank will also offer
debit
operations and money transfers. In the future, introduction of other
services will be considered.
Source: Asia Plus Newspaper
BUSINESS
ENVIRONMENT IN TAJIKISTAN – A SURVEY OF SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES
IN TAJIKISTAN
A survey conducted by the Private Enterprise Partnership division
of the
International Finance Corporation (IFC), and the Swiss Secretariat
for
Economic Affairs (seco) and The World Bank was presented in Dushanbe
on
February 12. Two thousand representatives of small and medium businesses
were surveyed, the questionnaire contained 177 questions. The report
contains conclusions on access to funding, obstacles in setting up
a
business, banking services and others. The IFC recommends to stimulate
alternative financing mechanisms such as leasing, micro financing
and etc.
Source: Vecherniy Dushanbe
Industry
A FIRST FIVE STAR HOTEL IN DUSHANBE
The Aga Khan Fund for Economical Development with support from the
Government of Tajikistan and Tourism Promotion Services of the Government
of
Dushanbe acquired 11 thousand square meters of land for the construction
of
a five star hotel SERENA. At present design and architect works are
in
progress The hotel will be located on Rudaki Avenue – a main
street of
Dushanbe.
Source: Asia Plus Newspaper
RESIDENTIAL
CONSTRUCTION IN DUSHANBE
Hatib & Alami Construction Corporation from United Arab Emirates
is willing
to build a residential multi story block as well as to participate
in the
water supply project in Dushanbe, said Mr. Mashur Al Shaar, General
Director
of Hatib & Alami during his meeting with Mayor of Dushanbe Mr.
Muhammadsaid
Ubaydullaev. This proposal is now being reviewed by the Mayor’s
Office.
Representatives of Hatib & Alami Construction Corporation are
viewing
architectural buildings of the city as well existing business environment.
Source: Asia Plus Newspaper
TAJIKISTAN
WANTS BOEING AIRCRAFTS
Tajik Prime Minister Oqil Oqilov on Tuesday, February 17, met with
visiting
head of the "Boeing" Company's Trade Department Mr. Vladimir
Silverstone,
according to presidential press service. Turanboy Tuichiyev, a spokesman
for the prime minister, told Asia-Plus that representatives from the
Tajik
national airline "Tojikiston" also attended the meeting.
According to him
the main purpose of the meeting was to discuss the acquisition by
Tajikistan
of the "Boeing" aircraft on the basis of leasing. Oqilov
noted that Boeing
was renowned the world over for producing reliable machines and its
planes
were profitable for exploitation in Tajikistan's conditions. In this
connec
tion, he suggested that experts from Tajik national airline and the
"Boeing"
company should study and compare the Boeing planes with other planes
in
terms of economy and carry out feasibility studies on the proposal
for
acquisition of these planes as well as prepare a scheme of routes
for them,
according to Tuichiyev.
We would recall that while visiting International Air and Space Exhibition
MAKS-2003 in Moscow, the Tajik delegation held talks on August 22
with
representatives from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development
(EBRD) and the U.S Company of "Boeing". In the course of
the talks the
sides considered the issue of lease by Tajik State Air Company "Tojikiston"
of two Boeing aircraft. It is to be noted that the EBRD, which is
planning
to provide to Tajikistan a loan on preferential terms for this, offers
to
Tajikistan Airbus aircraft as well as Boeing 737-700 that were produced
five-eight years ago. Representatives from the U.S. Company of "Boeing",
for their part, proposed to Tajikistan their aircraft Boeing-757.
The Tajik
side has made a condition that aircraft should be produced not earlier
than
1998. The sides came to an agreement that by mid-September, both the
EBRD
and the "Boeing" Company will have prepared their business-plans
and submit
for consideration to the Government of Tajikistan and the administration
of
the Air Company "Tojikiston". That time, Mirzoalimov who
was heading the
Tajik national airline told Asia-Plus that if the September negotiations
are
conducted successfully two international-class aircraft will be supplied
to
the republic in April 2004.
Source: www.asiaplus.tajnet.com
A
NEW TAJIK-AUSTRALIAN JOINT VENTURE “KHUJAND-SYDNEY”
Varorud Information & Analytical Agency informs that Khujand-Sydney
JV
specialized in processing of cotton waste has started its operations
in the
town of Kayrakkum. Cotton producing farms of Sogd (Northern region
of
Tajikistan) now have an opportunity to supply cotton waste to local
manufacturers. As of today, approximately 15-20% of the total volume
of raw
cotton produced in Tajikistan is being processed internally. This
leads to
establishment of new technology lines in existing enterprises of light
industry as well as to build new processing enterprises.
Source: www.varorud.org
CARRERA
INTERNATIONAL TO PRODUCE KNITTED WEAR AND FABRICS
A textile production firm Carrera International (Italy) intents to
continue
its cooperation with industrial enterprises in Tajikistan. As Asia
Plus
Newspaper reports this will be based on partnership with Abreshim
JSC and
Giavoni JSC of the Sogd region. President of Carrera International
Mr.
Emillio Takella visited Khujand and signed an agreement to establish
a new
joint venture to produce knitted wear and fabric using local raw materials.
The new joint venture will employ approximately 1,000 people and will
start
its operations in March 2004.
Source: Asia Plus Newspaper
Transport
& Telecom
MULTI MILLION DOLLAR AGREEMENT FOR TAJIK AFGHAN BRIDGE
Agreement between Government of Tajikistan and Transition Islamic
Government
of Afghanistan for the construction of the Tajik-Afghan bridge over
the
Pyanj River was signed on February 10, 2004 by Tajikistan Minister
of
Transport Abdujalil Salimov and Afghanistan Ambassador Muhammadovud
Panjsheri. A similar bilateral agreement between the U.S. and Tajikistan
was signed on December 31 by United States Ambassador Richard E. Hoagland
and the Minister of Transport of Tajikistan Abdujalil Salimov. The
United
States will provide $30-40 million for the project, which will help
re-open
historic trade routes between Afghanistan and Central Asia and increase
economic integration in the region. Survey teams from the United States
have completed initial hydrological and topographical investigation
and are
analyzing the results. Construction could begin in early 2004, and,
once
begun, is expected to take 18 months. The 670-meter bridge will be
built to
international seismic standards. This initiative is the result of
bilateral
and multilateral discussions among the governments of the United States,
Tajikistan, Afghanistan, Russia, Norway and a number of other interested
parties.
Sources: U.S. Embassy Dushanbe press release and Asia Plus Newspaper
A
NATIONAL TELECOM TRANSPORT NETWORK PROJECT IS BEING DEVELOPED
Tajikistan Ministry of Communication has developed a working group
to
discuss opportunities of developing a project aimed at building national
telecom transport network. At present, the Ministry of Communications
is
gathering feedback from government agencies and ministries to determine
minimal needs for data transmission between various parts of the country.
It is envisaged that technical assessment of the project and business
plan
will be developed by a reputable telecom consulting company. Building
of a
telecom transport highway will significantly improve data transmission
abilities as well as will open doors to new opportunities and technologies.
All equipment and cable manufacturers are widely encouraged to participate
in this project.
Sources: Ministry of Communications, www.tajik-gateway.org
Legislation
THE LAW ON FREE TRADE ZONE IS APPROVED BY THE PARLIAMENT
On February 18 the law On Free Trade Zones was approved by the Parliament.
The law was presented to parliamentarians by the Minister of Economy
and
Trade Hakim Soliev, according to him “experiences of Russian
Federation,
Kyrgyz Republic, Belarus, United Arab Emirates and Turkey was taken
into
account during drafting of the law. Creation of Free Trade Zones is
aimed
at providing favorable environment to bring investments and technologies,
to
provide economic growth of specific regions, to establish production
infrastructure, to bring to the market up-to-date and quality products,
create job opportunities which will in return contribute to poverty
alleviation”.
Source: Asia Plus Newspaper
COMPUTERIZED
TAXPAYER REGISTRATION SYSTEM GOES ONLINE AT THE MINISTRY OF STATE
REVENUES AND DUTIES
On February 16, U.S. Ambassador Richard E. Hoagland and the Minister
of
State Revenues and Duties, Mr. Gulomjon Babaev, officially launched
the new
computerized taxpayer registration system in the Railroad District
Tax
Department of the Ministry of State Revenues and Duties (MSRD). The
new
system replaces the manual registration system and enables registration
of
taxpayers in the Railway district through a new computer-based system.
The launch of the new system marks a milestone in the partnership
between
the Ministry of National Revenue and Duties and the U.S. Government
through
USAID, Ambassador Hoagland remarked at the opening ceremony. ?This
system,
along with other modernization methods at the Ministry, will foster
a more
positive business environment by simplifying the process of tax registration
and easing the burden on taxpayers who comply with the tax code. At
the same
time, the reforms will make the entire process more transparent, thereby
ensuring greater accuracy and accountability.
The computerized information system was developed under a partnership
between USAID and the MSRD, initiated by a Memorandum of Understanding
signed in February 2003. The system provides a national taxpayer database
registry in the MSRD and allows taxpayers to receive an accurate
computer-generated taxpayer identification number (TIN) when they
register.
The system also enables the transfer of information electronically
from the
district to the national database server in the MSRD. This new system
is a
win-win for both the Ministry and the taxpayers of Tajikistan who
will
benefit from the accuracy and timeliness of the information.
The computerized tax registration is just one part of the collaboration
between the U.S. and Tajik governments initiated in February 2003.
At that
time, USAID started a two-year project, implemented by Bearing Point
(former
KPMG), aimed at modernizing tax administration and establishing a
computerized tax information system in the Republic of Tajikistan.
The total
cost of the project is $1,264,900.
Source: U.S. Embassy Press Release
****************Sent
by****************
Philip H. de Leon, Acting Deputy Director and International Trade
Specialist
for Tajikistan
Business Information Service for the Newly Independent States (BISNIS)
USA Trade Center
U.S. Department of Commerce
Washington, DC 20230
Tel: (202) 482-2109, Fax: (202) 482-2293
E-Mail: Philip_de_Leon@ita.doc.gov
BISNIS Homepage: http://www.bisnis.doc.gov
