DUSHANBE , July 13, Asia-Plus - Tajik State Air Company “Tojikiston” is taking efforts to become free fro regulation of its activity by the country’s antimonopoly commission.  

According to information from Tajik air carrier, they have worked out a draft resolution on this subject and it will be submitted for consideration to the government soon.  The document proposes to determine a procedure of further regulation of the air company’s activity on determining and using tariffs on international lines, including flights from Tajikistan to the CIS countries.  “According to the source, the resolution has been drafted for the purpose providing way out of this situation and implementing an agreement between Tajikistan and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) on supporting Tajikistan ’s air carrier.” 

“Present tariff policy imposed on the company is extremely unprofitable,” said the Asia-Plus interlocutor, “Tariffs determined for international conveyances do not allow “Tojikiston” to compete with other air companies, which freely determine tariffs by themselves.” 

In the meantime, the antimonopoly commission says it is not aware of the draft resolution worked out by the “Tojikiston” company.  The source in the Antimonopoly Committee has told Asia-Plus that in any case, the air carrier cannot change anything without coordination of this document with the antimonopoly commission.  

The air carrier says that it is becoming and more and more difficult for it to compete with other air companies operating in the republic.   “A number of these companies is increasing year out,” said the source, “If last year, eighteen air companies were working in Tajikistan, at present their number reached 21, including 13 Russian, two Kyrgyz, one Kazakh and four air companies from the far abroad countries.”  “Tajik air carrier now is conducting flights only to four Russian cities: Moscow ; Novosibirsk ; Yekaterinburg and Samara.”  

The source says the company needs new competitive types of planes because air companies from other countries are conducting flights to Tajikistan on western type and new Russian type airplanes.  

In this connection, Tajik air company has concluded a contract with international accounting and consulting firm “Ernst & Young” on providing consultative services and checking preparedness of Dushanbe airport for receiving western type airplanes.