DUSHANBE, December 21, Asia-Plus –  A consultative center has been established at the border market in Khorog, the capital of the Gorno Badakhshan Autonomous Region (GBAO or Gorno Badakhshan). 

Boymamad Alibakhshev, the head of GBAO Entrepreneurs’ Association, told Pamir Media [Khorog independent news agency – Asia-Plus] the center is part is part of “Consultative Support for Development of Cross-Border Trade between Tajikistan and Afghanistan” program. 

GBAO Entrepreneurs’ Association is implementing the program in cooperation with the GBAO Directorate for Investments and Management of State-owned Property and the Afghan Consulate in Khorog under support of the OSCE Center in Dushanbe.     

            Senior representatives from the GBAO local authorities and the Afghan General Consul in Khorog Abdulmajid Okhonzoda attended the center-opening ceremony.

The center, aimed to promote cress-border trade, will make available accurate information on customs and markets to entrepreneurs on both sides of the border.  It will also offer business training opportunities focusing on small enterprises that promotes cross-border trade.  A similar center for promoting cross-border trade will be opened in GBAO’ Ishkashim district soon.     

It is to be noted that the OSCE Center in Dushanbe has been promoting trade development between Tajikistan and Afghanistan since 2004.  A number of cross-border business deals have resulted from an OSCE-supported international conference in 2005 on developing trade among countries bordering the GBAO region.  The event was held in Khorog.