DUSHANBE, April 24, Asia-Plus - Tajik known economist also head of the department for economic studies of the Ministry of Economy and Trade, Professor Hojimurod Umarov, telling the “Economic Growth: Problems, Factors and Effects” roundtable meeting pointed to the necessity of intensifying the fight against the corruption. 

Umarov called corruption the biggest drag on the country''s economy.  According to him, profit of enterprises mainly goes not to developing the production but to building palaces and villas.  He noted that fight against corruption in the republic should be open and transparent.

Dwelling on obstacles on the way of development of the country’s economy, Tajik researcher expressed concern about high banking interest rates, “which eat a part of the enterprises profits.”   

“There are practically no representative offices of foreign banks in Tajikistan and entrepreneurs have no access to long-term loans, which are of important significance for expanded reproduction,” Professor Umarov stressed, noting that more than 90 percent of main production resources have become obsolete and long-term loans could facilitate modernization of the main production resources.