In the beginning I would like to thank you all for coming and sharing this important event - our National Day with us. Also I thank everyone who stood by us and supported us in our way toward development and modern civilization. May Allah bless us all with the days ahead filled with achievements, joys and delights.
I extend my sincere gratitude to the Tajik government and its leadership especially His Excellency the President of the Republic of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon for his continuous support, assistance and cooperation for the success of our mission as the Embassy of the State of Qatar to Tajikistan.
Ladies and gentlemen:
In bilateral relation between Qatar and Tajikistan the year 2019 is an important milestone because this is the 25th year of establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
I grab this occasion to pay tribute to strong and brotherly relations between the State of Qatar and the Republic of Tajikistan. Our relations are cemented with various official visits from both sides on the top of which comes the visit of HH Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al – Thani the Emir of the State of Qatar (May Allah protect him) to Dushanbe for CICA Conference on June during which bilateral relations between the two countries and ways of enhancing them were discussed. In addition agreement between the Government of the State of Qatar and the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan on regulating the recruitment of Tajik workers in Qatar and MoU on Public Prosecution were signed.
Dear guests:
We celebrate the National Day filled with proud for achievements of the State of Qatar under the wise leadership of the country, headed by HH Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani Emir of Qatar (May Allah protect him) in various political, economical, cultural and educational fields.
Ladies and Gentlemen:
There is no doubt that the anniversary of the National Day represents a milestone and a window through which we can observe some of many achievements of the State of Qatar over the past years and in every corner of its territory and one of the most important one is hosting the 17 edition of the World Corporate Games in 2019 in Khalifah Stadium on last September for ten days with around 2000 athletes from 209 countries in 49 various athletic competitions. The State of Qatar has impressed all the participants with the high level of organization and implementation at the opening and closing ceremonies and the high logistical levels of the stadiums. And winning the hosting of the Football World Cup 2022 is another outstanding global success of Qatar. And as you all know to gain these hostings requires a lot of hard work and I am confident that Qatar with the guidance of God will dazzle the world with the innovative initiatives in inauguration, playing, arrangements and finally the closing ceremony as it was during the Athletics Championships. And this success is a matter of pride for all Arab and Islamic countries.
But the biggest achievement of the State of Qatar is the ambitious long - term plan “Qatar National Vision 2030” aiming to change Qatar by 2030 into advanced society capable of sustaining its development and providing high standard of living for its people generation after generation. The plan’s development goals are divided into four pillars:
- Human development
- Social development
- Economic development
- Environment development
Dear brothers and sisters:
Qatar Today is no longer a spectator of what happens in surroundings, but is an active member of international forums, Arab and Islamic World’s issues contributing in it positively. Background of the State of Qatar in countering terrorism is known and reliable. Qatar has contributed in all regional and international efforts aiming at countering terrorism. And finally Qatar partnered the friendly Republic of Tajikistan in organizing High Level International Conference on “International and Regional Conference on Countering Terrorism and it’s Financing through Illicit Drug Trafficking and Organized Crime” held on May of this year in Dushanbe. Also Qatar provided financial support to construction of Counter Terrorism Center of the Interior Ministry of Tajikistan despite all the terrorism support and finance slanders by the blockade countries against it.
In this spirit and by the will of Allah the almighty, nothing will discourage the State of Qatar from its serious endeavor to devote this good approach, both in the formulation of its internal development policy or in its foreign policy and cooperation relations with all friendly and brotherly countries.
Dear guests:
As we celebrate the National Day and as you know the State of Qatar is exposed to the unjust fabricated blockade by our neighbors and brothers since three years. In facing this unfair siege the State of Qatar has adopted the restraint and moderation policy emphasizing on dialogue to resolve the crisis in respect of our values and customs in order to preserve fraternal relations among the people of the Gulf, which earned it respect of the whole world.
Ladies and gentlemen:
Despite the siege on us, the State of Qatar has always stated in all international forums that the only solution to all problems is to sit at the table of negotiation but without touching the dignity and sovereignty of Qatar because it’s dignity and sovereignty is above all considerations and most of the countries of the world support Qatar’s position.
Dear guests:
As Allah glorified and exalted be He says in the holy Quran: “But perhaps you hate a thing and it is good for you; and perhaps you love a thing and it is bad for you. And Allah Knows, while you know not.” And the Arab proverbs says: (Every cloud has a silver lining) and although the siege was unjust and the four countries behind it aimed to damage all that affects the reputation of Qatar and it’s economy, however it has become a driving force from which the government and the people of Qatar have benefited it made people stand with proud and noble morals expressing strong solidarity with their government, coming out chanting: (we all Qatar ...... we all Tamim). On this occasion we salute all who stood with us and supported us on our plight, whether states, individuals or institutions. And this crisis also thought us a great lesson of self reliance and with sincere friends whether the siege lasts for long or short.
In conclusion we seek to keep the Qatari Tajikistan relations in a steady and continuous development and to work together on everything that would benefit the two friendly countries.
Dear guests:
Finally, I welcome you once again wishing you all success, and a nice time with us and peace, mercy and blessings of God be upon you.
China's state-owned CMEC has pledged to invest $545 million in Talco.
DUSHANBE, December 6, 2019, Asia-Plus – Tajikistan is reportedly on the cusp of selling a stake in its main industrial concern to a Chinese company, thereby relinquishing yet more assets in exchange for much-need cash injections.
RFE/RL’s Tajik service, Radio Ozodi, on December 4 cited Beijing’s former ambassador to Tajikistan, Yue Bin, as saying that the acquisition would be executed in return for the Chinese company investing $545 million into the TALCO aluminum producer.
TALCO, which is on paper fully state-controlled, has not commented publicly on the prospect of it being part-privatized. Yue offered no details about the size of any stakes to be sold
The conditions for sale have been created, however. Under a government decree, TALCO was on November 1 converted from a state unitary enterprise into an open joint-stock company. Although the shares all now belong to the government, a portion may in time be traded to private investors.
The deal for state-owned China Machinery Engineering Corporation, or CMEC, to overhaul TALCO’s aluminum smelter in the town of Tursunzoda dates back to September 2017, when Emomali Rahmon visited Beijing. TALCO in April announced that CMEC’s modernization program would be worth $545 million. The Tajik company did not explain at the time how it proposed to redeem the investment.
In addition to renovating an existing TALCO plant, CMEC is also supposed to be building a new smelter, although no progress has been made there.
TALCO owes substantial amounts to the taxman and the national electricity company Barqi Tojik energy holding. This does not mean some are not profiting, however.
The bulk of the money generated by TALCO passes to its tolling partner, British Virgin Islands-registered TALCO Management Ltd, or TML. TML effectively acts as a financial middleman between TALCO and the world, buying raw materials for the factory and selling its finished product. Talco, as a separate legal entity, receives a relatively modest fee for its part in the process.
Talco is a voracious consumer of subsidized electricity.
The company’s facilities are estimated to consume around 30 percent of the electricity that Tajikistan produces. When it pays for that power, it does so at reduced commercial rates. Households pay 22.4 dirham ($0.02) per kilowatt hour, but Talco is charged 7.2 dirham for the same amount.
The government’s gamble is that power generated by the Roghun hydropower plant now under construction could eventually be parlayed into supporting future enterprises like a new electricity-hungry Talco smelter.
If the authorities choose to emulate their prior policy of prioritizing the use of electricity for industrial purposes instead of supplying households, the routine blackouts that have been a feature of much of the past decade will likely persist to some degree.
Sale of a stake in Talco will, in effect, serve to underwrite a new wave of pollution, cover debts, but bring limited relief to the population at large.
Тоҷикӣ
