DUSHANBE, June 25, 2013 Asia-Plus – Tajik President Emomali Rahmon, who is currently on his state visit to Kuwait, yesterday attended the forum of Tajik and Kuwaiti entrepreneurs in Kuwait City.

According to the Tajik president’s official website, the conference brought together more than 150 entrepreneurs from both nations to discuss cooperation issues.

Speaking at the forum, President Rahmon reportedly noted that there was considerable room for expansion of economic ties between the two countries.

Emomali Rahmon presented wide and favorable opportunities of trade and economic cooperation with developing economy of Tajikistan personally and called on Kuwaiti entrepreneurs to establish mutually beneficial cooperation with Tajikistan.

Kuwaiti entrepreneurs were offered to pay a collective visit to Tajikistan to get acquainted with conditions of cooperation and opportunities of Tajikistan.

On the sidelines of the forum, Tajik and Kuwaiti Chambers of Commerce and Industry signed a protocol of cooperation, the president’s website reports.

Kuwaiti entrepreneurs reportedly showed interest in establishment of cooperation with Tajikistan in sector like hydropower, agriculture, minerals and tourism.  

Meanwhile, the Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) reports the Kuwait Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) on Monday expressed desire for closer ties between Kuwait and Tajikistan in the economic and investment fields.

“The bilateral ties have great potentials for growth in all domains,” KCCI First Deputy Chairman Khaled Abdullah Al-Sager was quoted as saying after receiving Tajik President Emomali Rahmon and his party at the headquarters of the chamber.

He reportedly made the comments during a joint press conference with Chairman of Tajik State Committee on Investments and State-owned Property Management, Davlatali Saidov.

“The State of Kuwait is blessed with investment-attractive atmosphere thanks to its political stability, deep-rooted democracy, fair judicial system, modern banking system, experienced private sector, modern infrastructure, and unique geographic location,” Mr. Khaled Abdullah Al-Sager noted.

“All these characteristics, coupled with friendly ties with Tajikistan, provide the suitable ground for effective partnership in the investment and commercial ties,” Al-Sager pointed out.

“Kuwait is looking forward to building closer ties with the Central Asia country and open new horizons for cooperation in order to meet the needs of both nations and serve the mutual interests,” he reaffirmed.

The two countries signed an agreement on the promotion and protection of joint investments in 1995. Since then, the two sides exchanged visits on various levels with a view to furthering the bilateral ties.

The current visit of President Rahmon to Kuwait expresses not only satisfaction with the progress of the bilateral ties but the shared aspiration for stronger economic and commercial ties, Al-Sager went on.

For his part, Saidov said Tajikistan seeks “to capitalize on her friendly ties and the already-signed cooperative deals with Kuwait to attract more Kuwaiti investments.”

“Tajikistan is blessed with a stable investment infrastructure and enjoys abundant natural resources that gave rise to the mining industry in such fields as gold, aluminum and coal besides the oil and gas industries,” he said.

“The Tajik government grants tax exemptions to new foreign investments for two - five years according to the volume of investments,” Saidov went on.

According to KUNA, President Rahmon and his party were welcomed at the KCCI by Kuwait Minister of Commerce and Industry Anas Al-Saleh and leaders of the chambers.