Tehran, Iran, June 3

Araz News via trend.az: A Tajik official believes that there are many opportunities on which Iran and Tajikistan could cooperate. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, Iran was one of the first countries to recognize Tajikistan.

Since 1992, the two countries have signed 146 economic contracts and their relations have been on the rise.

Right now, there are 220 private and governmental Iranian companies working in Tajikistan, Sangmuhamad Zaurov, deputy head of the Tajikistan mission in Iran, told Trend June 3.

He said that one of the greatest works Iran is carrying out in his country is the Sangtuda 2 power plant.

MOUs signed by Iranian and Tajik presidents in 2011, aimed at speeding up the construction procedure of “Esteghlal” tunnel, “Sangtuda- 2” dam and power plant, and cooperation in the fields of water and energy by the two sides.

Iran is currently involved in the finance and construction of several projects in Tajikistan including a dam, a tunnel and a hydroelectric power plant project.

Last September, President Hassan Rouhani operated the second wheel of the power plant during his trip to Tajikistan. Zaurov further mentioned that currently 50 Iranian experts are working on the Esteghlal Tunnel.

He pointed out that a lot of Iranian companies are working in Tajikistan in the fields of detergents, dairy products, construction, food, etc.

The Iran-Tajikistan trade turnover was about $300 million in 2013. Of that amount, $220 million was Iranian export to Tajikistan and the rest was Tajikistan export to Iran. Due to sanctions on Iran ‘s economy, the volume shrank to about $260 million in 2014.

The Tajik official noted that Iran and Tajikistan have great opportunities to further boost economic relations.

The Iran-Tajikistan joint economic committee has so far held 10 sessions, addressing close to 80 topics of interests in the fields of insurance, construction, roads, health, etc, he added.

By Temkin Jafarov

Reprinted from  trend.az