DUSHANBE, December 16, 2014, Asia-Plus – “The mining industry could become a base for development of Tajikistan, as a developing country,” Director-General of the International Geological and Mining Corporation of China, Shao Guozheng, told Asia-Plus in an interview.

The state basic industry is the leading industry with a more rapid pace of development in the national economy, which manages the overall state economy and moves it forward.  This industry has a strong contagion, it leads to the development of a new industry, has a deep and extensive influence on the structure of the economies of all organizations and regions that provide its industrial materials. With the development of economy, basic industry also changes.

A good example is Dubai, which in the 70s of the last century was a small fishing village, Mr. Shao Guozheng noted.  “Once there began to develop oil resources as a basic industry, Dubai has developed steadily.  Based on the successful model of economic development, and based on financial and personal savings, its economic structure, basic industry which was once the oil has already changed in the aggregate center with trade, finance, aviation and maritime transport.”

Tajikistan is rich in undeveloped mineral resources - gold, silver, lead, zinc, antimony, etc.  The situation in the country after a long civil war has become a stable, functioning government pays great attention to the development of the economy, including the development and production of minerals. Therefore, at present the mining industry can be a basic industry of the Government of Tajikistan.

On the activities of Chinese mining companies operating in Tajikistan, he noted that large industrial enterprises, like - Tajik-Chinese mining company, International Mining Company (ZIJIN) - a joint venture Zeravshan proved to be effective and a good example of the activities of Chinese enterprises.

With real support of the Government of Tajikistan, 20-30 mining companies have reportedly received licenses to develop mining fields, he noted.

In the long term perspective it will boost the engineering industry, transportation of goods, and diversion of remittances from abroad, which are currently mainly used for consumption.

Along with this, the creation of large mining companies is settling local infrastructure – building of small towns locally improve the situation with employment, education, training and health care.  Small hydro power plants and roads that were built by some mining companies have solved the problem with the power supply and communications for the local population.

In general, the mining industry is currently regarded as the basic industry of the Government of Tajikistan, which is very useful for the development of the national economy, the stabilization of society and to increase income of population. This idea is a strategic plan for the development of the country.

International Geological and Mining Corporation of China reportedly has extensive experience in the development of projects abroad and is the general contractor of various mining fields, such as the deposit of copper-zinc-gold AlMasane in Saudi Arabia which is estimated at 300 million USD, deposit of manganese mine in Côte Lauzoua d''Ivoire $ 150 mln., gold deposit in Eritrea Augaro $ 4.5 mln and others.