The roadmap to increase trade between the government of Turkmenistan and the government of the Republic of Tajikistan for 2022–2023 was signed following the talks between Presidents Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov and Emomali Rahmon last Wednesday.

 A number of other documents, signed the day before, were also aimed at developing trade and economic ties.  Those included the Program of Trade and Economic Cooperation between the Governments of Turkmenistan and Tajikistan for 2021–2023;  Agreement between the Ministry of Trade and Foreign Economic Relations of Turkmenistan and the Ministry of Trade and Economic Development of Tajikistan on the establishment of trading houses in Turkmenistan and Tajikistan;  Agreement on the establishment of a Business Council between the Chambers of Commerce and Industry of the two countries;  intergovernmental agreement on industrial cooperation;  Memorandum of Cooperation between the Ministry of Finance and Economy of Turkmenistan and the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade of Tajikistan.

 Having spoken at the talks in an expanded format, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov emphasized that Turkmenistan attached great importance to the expansion and qualitative development of trade and economic relations with Tajikistan, which was considered as a significant and promising partner.

 At the same time, the Turkmen leader stated that, despite a certain increase in bilateral trade 2021 year, in general, the trade and economic potential of the two countries has not correspond to the desired level.

 - Obviously, significant reasons for the decline in the rate of bilateral trade turnover in recent years were objective difficulties, financial and economic problems of the modern world, as well as the negative impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the economic situation in the region, including on trade, economic and transport-transit interaction  between our countries, - the Turkmen leader said.

 Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov noted that the activities of the Intergovernmental Turkmen-Tajik Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific and Technical Cooperation played a significant role in the development of foreign economic dialogue.

 The head of Turkmenistan also stated the need to significantly increase interaction between the business communities, hold joint exhibitions of commodity producers, economic forums.  The President offered to provide state assistance in attracting Turkmen and Tajik companies to participate in joint investment projects in the territories of the two countries.

 “Turkmenistan is ready for a significant expansion of cooperation with Tajikistan in the field of trade in products of the fuel and energy complex, construction and chemical industries, food, textile, pharmaceutical industries, agriculture”, - the Turkmen leader said.

 In turn, Emomali Rahmon emphasized: «We are serious about ensuring that Turkmenistan, like other neighbors in the region, will become one of the leading external economic partners of our country in the near future».