DUSHANBE, April 28, Asia-Plus -- Due to irregular work of enterprises, Tajikistan has produced a total of 1.2 billion somonis worth of industrial goods in January-March 2008, which is 141.3 million somonis fewer than in the same period of last year, the Deputy Economic Development and Trade Minister, Zuhriddin Kenjayev, told a press conference in Dushanbe on April 25. 

According to him, the production decline has led to a 15.3 percent increase in prices of the industrial goods. 

“Thus, the State Unitary Enterprise Tojikcement (Dushanbe cement plant) has managed to reach only 80 percent of its target for report period,” said the deputy minister.  “In January-March 2008, Tojikcement has produced 53,300 tons of cement, which is 13,400 tons fewer than in the same period of last year.”

In the meantime, the Tajik Aluminum Company (TALCO – Tajik aluminum smelter) has produced 96,900 tons of primary aluminum for 529.9 million somonis over the report period, which is 3,500 tons or 19.6 million somonis more than in the same period of last year.