TAJIKISTAN: Kazakhstan and Tajikistan presidents agree to set up joint 100 million US dollar investment fund

Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev arrived in Tajikistan on Wednesday (September 12) for a two-day official visit aimed at the strengthening of bilateral political and economic relations between the two neighbouring countries. The meeting between Nazarbayev and his Tajik counterpart, Emomali Rahmon, was held in a friendly and relaxed atmosphere. Business leaders and official delegations of the two countries were able to witness the signing of five new documents of co-operation between them. "We have stressed that it is necessary to stimulate the growth of Kazakhstan's investments and their growth in the economy of Tajikistan. And we think this forum of businessmen of two countries will give a new start to our economy," said Rahmon after the documents were signed. The most significant development was the setting up of a joint Kazakh-Tajik investment fund worth 100 million US dollars. The fund is designed to help Tajikistan, one of the poorest states of the Central Asian region, to develop its economy. "The main thing with which we can really boost the turnover is that we have agreed to set up a special 100 million US dollar investment fund. Kazakhstan will contribute the biggest part of the fund and it will be working for Tajikistan's economy," Nazarbayev said. Kazakhstan is the world's ninth largest, oil-rich country with a population of only 15 million people. Nazarbayev has ruled the country since 1989, first as a Communist leader, then as president.

ITN Source | September 14, 2007

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