DUSHANBE, April 3, 2012, Asia-Plus - The exchange visit of Tajik exporters, processors and consolidators of dried fruits to Batken region of Kyrgyzstan is taking place on April 4, 2012, press release issued by Hilfswerk Austria International in Tajikistan said.

The exchange visit aims to promote cooperation between producers and consolidators of the fruit and vegetable products in Kyrgyzstan and exporters/processors from Tajikistan.

The exchange visit was initiated during the last information session conducted by Hilfswerk Austria International in Tajikistan, financed by the European Union Program “Central Asia – Invest II” and the representatives of fruit and vegetable processing and production sector from Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan.

The following representatives of local and international organizations take part in organization and conduction of the exchange visit: UNDP “The Wider Europe: Aid for Trade for Central Asia, South Caucasus and Western CIS;” USAID Kyrgyzstan, Local development Program; GIZ. Support for regional economic cooperation in Central Asia; Batken Market Information Center; and Moltushum cooperative.

The overall objective of the project is to promote the regional integration of Central Asia in the global economy.

The organizers are Hilfswerk Austria International, ASTI (Association of Scientific and technical Intelligentsia) and ASTI (Association of Scientific and technical Intelligentsia).

Hilfswerk Austria International – is a non-profit, cross-denominational and non-partisan organization providing both international and humanitarian aid for victims of war and environmental disasters as well as long-term development assistance.  Hilfswerk Austria International has been working in Tajikistan since 2001.  The main areas of activity – assistance to victims of natural disasters, agricultural development, support of small and medium enterprises, income generation, development of organizations and civil society building.

ASTI (Association of Scientific and technical Intelligentsia) is a nonprofit, nongovernmental organization that supports the development of democratic society in Tajikistan by utilizing the wealth of potential resources contained in the local scientific and technical intelligentsia, and increasing the capacity of the noncommercial sector through the distribution of information, coordination, education and consultation.

The National Association of Small and Medium Business of Tajikistan (NASMB) is a nongovernmental, nonprofit membership organization, which unites small and medium sized companies as well as business support organizations and other business related organizations, promotes their interests and protects their rights via provision of different valuable services.  NASMB was established in 1993 and has been in re-registered on March 4, 2008 in the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Tajikistan.