DUSHANBE, July 29, Asia-Plus -- 276 million U.S. dollars have been invested in Tajikistan’s economy over the first three months of this year, First Deputy Chairman of the State Committee on Investment and State-owned Property Management (GosKomInvest), Lochin Fayzulloyev, announced at a news conference in Dushanbe on July 29.

“This amount included 186 million U.S. dollars provided in loans and 89 million U.S. dollars provided in foreign direct investments,” Fayzulloyev noted.

Compared to the first quarter of 2013, foreign direct investments provided over the report period increased by 27 million U.S. dollars and other types of investments increased by 67 million U.S. dollars, he said.

“Foreign direct investments have mainly gone into financing of exploration and development of mineral deposits – 33 million U.S. dollars, financial services – 5 million U.S. dollars, and construction – 7 million U.S. dollars,” Fayzulloyev added.  

Foreign direct investment (FDI) is a direct investment into production or business in a country by an individual or company of another country, either by buying a company in the target country or by expanding operations of an existing business in that country. Foreign direct investment is in contrast to portfolio investment which is a passive investment in the securities of another country such as stocks and bonds.

Over the report period, Russia has accounted for 47.9 percent (132 million U.S. dollars) of the overall volume of foreign investments.

China (56 million U.S. dollars or 20.2 percent) and Luxembourg (17 million U.S. dollars) are among the top three investors in Tajikistan.

They are followed by the United States - 15 million U.S. dollars), Qatar and Switzerland - 7 million U.S. dollars each, Germany and the United Kingdom – 5 million U.S. dollars each, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) – 4 million U.S. dollars, the Netherlands – 3 million U.S. dollars.

Dushanbe has reportedly received most part of investments – 64.4 percent; Sughd province – 25.2 percent, districts subordinate to the center – 9.07 percent, Khatlon province – 0.85 percent, and the Gorno Badakhshan Autonomous Region (GBAO) – 0.03 percent.

Over the first six months of this year, Tajikistan has reportedly signed six investment projects for a total amount of 53.4 million U.S. dollars, with 75.5 percent of this amount being grants.