Tajikistan is targetting Qatar for investments in its five major sectors, including tourism and hydropower, it was revealed at a meeting yesterday.

Emomali Rahmon, President of Tajikistan, and his high-level business delegation met with officials and members of the Qatar Businessmen Association (QBA) “to activate business cooperation” between Tajikistan and Qatar, said a report in Gulf News.

According to the report, the president has implemented a series of economic reforms and policies to lure Qatari investment in the fields of hydropower, banking and finance, tourism, mining, and agriculture.

“Qatar is one of our main global partners and we are interested in cementing economic ties at all levels. This meeting is a significant factor for enhancing multi-faceted cooperation between Tajikistan and Qatar,” said Rahmon.

“Despite a turbulent global economy, we have achieved remarkable economic progress over the past several years and the country boasts of an investment environment that is conducive for business.
Tajikistan is now ready for Qatari investments,” the report quaoted Jamoliddin Nuraliev, first deputy chairman, National Bank of Tajikistan, as saying.

In his presentation, Nuraliev announced plans to invite Qatar Airways to launch flights from Doha to Tajikistan as part of efforts to transform the country into an investment hub.  

Citing a 3.1 billion population around Tajikistan, Nuraliev said Qatar can tap neighbouring countries like India, Russia, Kazakhstan, China, Pakistan, and Afghanistan, as well as Central Asia.

Citing the Diar Dushanbe project, a mixed-use development in Tajikistan, Sheikh Faisal said Qatar is the first Arab country that had embarked on investment projects in Tajikistan.

The meeting was also highlighted by the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Qatar Stock Exchange and the Central Asian Stock Exchange, a new financial institute in Tajikistan, which was established in April 2015 as a unique platform for organised securities trading.