Dushanbe Hosts Forum on Cooperation with Donors and Development Partners in the Field of Labor, Migration and Employment

Yesterday, the Ministry of Labor, Migration and Employment of the Population in collaboration with UNICEF held a Forum on Cooperation with Donors and Development Partners in the field of Labor, Migration and Employment.

The forum was attended by representatives of ministries and agencies, development partners, international organizations, embassies of foreign countries, as well as domestic and foreign media.

The forum included a discussion and a round table on issues related to reforming the activities of the ministry, including primary vocational education, productive employment, migration, adult education, as well as the creation of a single platform for close cooperation with international organizations, development partners and donors, as well as the development of a joint roadmap to improve investment in the activities of the ministry.

“Our country has overcome difficult socio-economic problems and today has entered a qualitatively new stage of rapid and sustainable development. Currently, one of the main goals of the government is the implementation of the National Development Strategy of Tajikistan for the period up to 2030 and other conceptual programs and documents adopted under this strategy,” Minister of Labor Shirin Amonzoda noted.

She added that Tajikistan is in the development stage. As a result of the joint efforts of the government and donors, some successes have been achieved which are bearing fruit in key strategic areas.

According to the Household Budget Survey conducted by the Agency on Statistics, the poverty rate fell from 83% in 1999 to 26.3% in 2020.

The reduction of poverty is associated with economic development, which was achieved as a result of ensuring macroeconomic socio-political stability.

One of the important activities of the ministry is cooperation with development partners in attracting additional resources and investing in labor resources, migration and employment.

Amonzoda noted that according to statistics, the number of employed in the country in 2020 reached 2,560,000 people, and the trend of its growth compared to the previous five years was 5%. The largest share of the population employed in the real sector of the country is in agriculture, construction, mining and processing industries, and regulation of working conditions, monitoring compliance with its rules, including timely and full payment of wages.

She noted that another task of the ministry is digitalization, which is considered a priority, since the transition to digitalization will make it possible to properly regulate labor relations, analyze the situation, and in general, control and manage labor in the country.

Minister of Economic Development and Trade Zavki Zavkizoda noted that the government considers the development of the national economy as one of its priorities. The transition to the digital economy requires highly qualified personnel.

Head of UNICEF in Tajikistan Osama Makkawi noted that the coronavirus has affected the economies of all countries, delaying the development of some of them for another ten years.

“Today, with the help of the digital economy, we can create more jobs and reduce poverty. In order to achieve a green economy, all structures must be digitized. For this we need talented personnel, with linguistic skills and specialized knowledge that meet modern requirements. Therefore, UNICEF has taken more initiatives in Tajikistan to achieve these goals,” he said.

Following the forum, the participants adopted recommendations on the reform and further development of the labor sphere, migration and employment of the population, the priorities of its reform and the need to introduce modern management methods.

Source: National information agency of Tajikistan

Ankara Will Host Next Meeting of the Tajik-Turkish Intergovernmental Commission on Economic Cooperation in 2022

On December 15, Minister of Industry and New Technologies Sherali Kabir met with the Minister of Industry and Technology of Turkey Mustafa Varank in Ankara.

The parties exchanged views on the current situation and opportunities for the development of trade and economic relations, including within the framework of the Tajik-Turkish Intergovernmental Commission on Economic Cooperation.

The meeting also focused on the current state of the implementation of the Joint Action Plan of the commission’s meeting, including issues related to strengthening cooperation in the fields of trade, economy, investment, banking, industry, and other important issues of bilateral cooperation.

A Business Forum of Tajikistan and Turkey is planned to be held in Konya.

The parties also agreed to organize intermediate working meetings online and offline before the 12th meeting of the Tajik-Turkish Intergovernmental Commission on Economic Cooperation, scheduled for 2022 in Ankara.

Source: National information agency of Tajikistan

Tajik and Turkish Business Forum Held in Konya

Yesterday, the Tajik and Turkish Business Forum was held at the Selcuklu Congress Center in Konya.

The forum was organized with the support of the Ministry of Industry and New Technologies of Tajikistan and the Ministry of Industry and Technology of Turkey per initiative of the Konya Chamber of Commerce and Industry in collaboration with the Konya Stock Exchange and the Tajik-Turkish Council of Entrepreneurs DOIC.

The Minister of Industry and New Technologies of Tajikistan Sherali Kabir and the Minister of Industry and Technologies of Turkey Mustafa Varank also attended the forum.

“Today we are attending this grandiose event to increase the level of economic ties and trade between our countries. Meeting with the Turkish business community is key in attracting investments into the Tajik economy,” Kabir noted.

He also drew the attention of the participants and Turkish investors to the spheres of energy, transport, communications, construction materials, light industry, food, agriculture and its processed products, tourism and banking in Tajikistan.

Following the forum, Kabir and Varank signed a memorandum between the Ministry of Industry and New Technologies of Tajikistan and the Ministry of Industry and Technology of Turkey.

Director General of Sughd’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry Muhammadjon Muhammadjonov and Chairman of the Konya Chamber of Commerce and Industry Selcuk Ozturk also signed the memorandum.

In the second round of the forum, bilateral negotiations were held between entrepreneurs of the two countries in the B2B format. In general, dozens of Tajik companies and firms were able to stimulate and attract Turkish entrepreneurs and investors to the Tajik market.

A memorandum was also signed between the Design and Development Center for New Industrial Technologies of Tajikistan and Lik Yapi Company investments in the amount of $2 million, and Perform Mekanik investments in the amount of $25 million.

On the Tajik side, the forum was attended by the Ambassador of Tajikistan to Turkey Ashrafjon Gulov, Consul General of Tajikistan in Istanbul Murod Saidzoda, representatives of the Ministry of Industry and New Technologies of Tajikistan, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Tajikistan, the World Bank Group, Tajik entrepreneurs from among the industries of minerals and precious metals, chemistry and defense, cocoon, textile, light, construction and food industries and others.

On the Turkish side, the forum was attended by the Mayor of Konya Ugur Ibrahim Altay, Governor of Konya Vahdettin Ozkan, President of the Turkish Foreign Economic Relations Council (DEIK) Nail Olpak, Chairman of the Business Council of Turkey and Tajikistan Cihangir Fikri Saatchioglu, representatives of the Ministry of Industry and Technology of Turkey, chairmen and representatives of the Chamber of Commerce, the Chamber of Industry, the Stock Exchange, the city government, party leaders, representatives of various companies, Turkish businessmen, professors from Konya universities and representatives of the Turkish press.

Source: National information agency of Tajikistan

Tajikistan Calls to Coordinate Activities to Prevent Spread of Drugs

Yesterday in Moscow, Director of the Drug Control Agency Habibullo Vohidzoda attended the meeting of the Steering Committee of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) regional program for Afghanistan and neighboring countries.

Vohidzoda spoke about the achievements and problems in the fight against drug trafficking and the prevention of drug addiction, about the danger of the spread of synthetic drugs and psychotropic substances, especially young people, and called on the UNODC and other participants of the meeting to coordinate the activities of the international community to prevent the spread of drugs.

Noting the real threat from drug addiction to the health of the population and the gene pool of the nation, along with strengthening the fight against drug trafficking, Tajikistan is taking all the necessary measures in the field of drug addiction prevention, treatment and rehabilitation of drug addicts.

The meeting was also attended by the heads and representatives of the authorized bodies of Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Iran, Pakistan, as well as the UNODC, the Central Asian Regional Information Coordination Center for Combating Illicit Trafficking Narcotic Drugs, Psychotropic Substances and Their Precursors (CARICC), other countries, international donor organizations and institutions.

The meeting focused on the key achievements of the UNODC regional program for Afghanistan and neighboring countries in phase II and an overview of the main strategic priorities of phase III of this program for 2022, regional guarantees of counter-narcotics capacity and cooperation with the UNODC regional program for Afghanistan and neighboring countries, statements by donor states and partners of the regional program, the official start of the third stage of the UNODC program for the period 2022-2025.

Source: National information agency of Tajikistan

Yet Another Unlawful Act by Kyrgyz Citizens in Tajik Territory

Yetserday at about 16:50, the fact of illegal construction by Kyrgyz citizens was recorded at the section of the post of the Isfara border detachment of the Border Troops of the State Committee for National Security of Tajikistan in the village of Somoniyon, states the message of the press center of the Tajik Border Troops.

In order to suppress the illegal acts of Kyrgyz citizens, the Chief of the Border Post of Tajikistan organized a meeting with his Kyrgyz counterpart. However, during the negotiations, aggressive Kyrgyz citizens interrupted the meeting by throwing stones and attacking the Tajik border guards. As in previous cases, initiating another incident, Kyrgyz citizens began to move forward, thereby threatening the life and health of Tajik border guards.

Chief of the Border Post of Tajikistan, having correctly assessed the situation, in order to suppress the development of the conflict, in strict accordance with the requirements established by law, fired two warning shots into the air, thereby stopping the aggressive crowd.

The border representatives of the parties who arrived at the scene agreed to jointly investigate the incident.

Source: National information agency of Tajikistan

Minister of Justice and US Ambassador to Tajikistan Discuss Legal Aid Programs

Minister of Justice Muzaffar Ashuriyon met with the US Ambassador to Tajikistan John Mark Pommersheim.

The meeting focused on areas of mutual cooperation, legal aid programs and strengthening the legal environment in cooperation with the Ministry of Justice.

Ashuriyon informed about bilateral cooperation and shared his views on new areas of cooperation and initiatives envisaged in the activities of the justice authorities.

Pommersheim called the proposals presented acceptable and worthy of support.

Source: National information agency of Tajikistan

Dushanbe Hosts Congress of the Central Asian Football Association

Yesterday, Dushanbe hosted the 6th Congress of the Central Asian Football Association (CAFA), reports the Football Federation of Tajikistan.

CAFA President Rustam Emomali, CAFA Vice President Dastanbek Konokbaev from Kyrgyzstan, members of CAFA’s Executive Committee Ravshan Irmatov from Uzbekistan and Mehdi Taj from Iran, heads and delegates of the Football Federations of Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Iran and Afghanistan attended the congress. Representatives of the Football Federation of Turkmenistan participated online.

Rustam Emomali addressed the participants and stressed that the national associations that are part of CAFA play a key role in the development of football in the region.

“The exchange of views on the development of football in our region and the opportunity to meet each other are very valuable for each of us,” Emomali said.

The past two years have been difficult for the global community and for the development of Central Asian football due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The creation of a financial support program for the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) for regional associations has allowed CAFA to expand its capabilities and operate on an ongoing basis since the beginning of 2021. We are pleased that the CAFA has made great effort to host tournaments for various ages in the context of the pandemic. In 2021, three CAFA tournaments were held in Dushanbe,” he noted.

Emomali added that in 2022, there is a plan to organize eight competitions for different ages. Participation in these tournaments gives the national teams of the participating countries a good stage of preparation for the qualifying tournaments under the auspices of the AFC, and of course, the players can improve their skills.

“I want to emphasize that the national associations of Central Asia play a key role in the development of football in the region. A number of AFC competitions were successfully held in the countries of our region, which increased the prestige of the organization and once again proves that the AFC can always count on us. Taking this opportunity, I would like to thank the AFC for their trust and fruitful cooperation,” he said.

Despite some challenges, the national federations that make up the CAFA have been able to work together in an atmosphere of solidarity and contribute to the development and revival of football in the region.

“I hope that in the future we will continue to contribute to the development and progress of football in the region,” Emomali noted.

The CAFA General Secretary Ulugbek Karimov reported on the activities of CAFA for 2021, where he spoke in detail about the tournaments and events that were held this year under the auspices of the association.

CAFA’s budget for 2022 was also approved at the congress.

Irmatov proposed to hold the Navruz Cup tournament among the national teams that are part of the CAFA in the near future.

Source: National information agency of Tajikistan

PM Rasulzoda Meets Head of the Russian Federal Service for the Oversight of Consumer Protection and Welfare

Today, Prime Minister Kohir Rasulzoda met with the head of the Russian Federal Service for the Oversight of Consumer Protection and Welfare (Rospotrebnadzor) Anna Popova.

Since the registration of COVID-19, close contacts have been established between Tajik and Russian health professionals, and cooperation has been fruitful through the exchange of experiences and the implementation of timely plans.

Rospotrebnadzor played a key role in providing medical supplies and improving the professional skills of Tajik health workers during the outbreak of COVID-19.

The parties expressed interest in the establishment of good cooperation between Tajikistan and Russia.

They also expressed their views were on strengthening cooperation between Tajikistan and Rospotrebnadzor.

Source: National information agency of Tajikistan