Tajikistan’s Ambassador to Ankara, Ashrafcon Gulov, stated that there will be a trade volume of $363 million between Turkiye and Tajikistan in 2023 and said, “Both sides have enough potential to further increase these figures.”
Gulov made evaluations to the AA correspondent regarding the 32nd anniversary of Turkiye-Tajikistan diplomatic relations.
Reminding that the two countries have left 32 years of diplomatic relations behind, Gulov stated that Turkiye was one of the first countries to recognize the independence of Tajikistan. “After our independence, relations with Turkiye became one of the priorities of Tajikistan’s foreign policy and still continue to develop effectively in a multifaceted manner. During this period, significant successes have been achieved thanks to bilateral cooperation.”
Ambassador Gulov said that there are more than 75 cooperation agreements between the two countries and negotiations are continuing on nearly 40 draft agreements.
Emphasizing that the two countries support each other’s initiatives and constructive attitudes in the international arena, Gulov stated that the high-level visits between the parties were constructive.
Gulov stated that political consultations and negotiations between the foreign ministries of Turkiye and Tajikistan continue in the presence of delegations and said, “Problems are discussed and evaluated by the parties in the delegation meetings that constantly take place. At the term meeting between the delegations held in Ankara on December 18, 2023, current international and regional issues as well as the current status and perspective of bilateral relations were discussed.”
Reminding that Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan visited Dushanbe on January 10, Gulov noted that Fidan had productive meetings with Tajikistan President Imomali Rahman and other officials, and that President Recep Tayyip Erdogan also has plans to visit Tajikistan this year.
Gulov said that his country’s foreign minister is planned to attend the Antalya Diplomatic Forum.
“Our goal is to increase the trade volume to $1 billion”
Emphasizing that economic relations between the two countries are among the priority cooperation agendas of the two countries, Gulov continued as follows:
“According to Tajikistan statistical data, Tajikistan’s trade volume with Turkiye in 2023 is equivalent to $363 million. Even though this figure is 5% higher than 2022, it is still not satisfactory. Because both parties have enough potential to increase these figures even further.
Our goal is to increase the trade volume to $1 billion. As a matter of fact, this initiative was included in the ‘road map of increasing trade between Tajikistan and Turkiye to $1 billion for the 2023-2025 period’.
In order to increase the trade volume to $1 billion, it is necessary to expand cooperation in the field of banking, especially to open representative offices of mutual banks in the two countries.
“Tajikistan aims to establish joint enterprises with the friendly country Turkiye, especially in the fields of mining gold, aluminum and other minerals and processing cotton.”
Since January 1, 2022, Turkish citizens can enter Tajikistan without a visa
Gulov stated that Turkiye and Tajikistan have common historical and cultural values, and that mutual cultural days in both countries are among the initiatives that strengthen cultural ties.
Stating that Tajik students have been studying in higher education institutions in Turkiye since 1996, Gulov said, “According to official statistics, approximately 900 Tajik students are currently studying in the departments of economics, international relations, language and engineering at Turkiye’s leading universities. Our students express that they are satisfied with the quality of education and their interactions with professors at Turkiye’s leading universities. Every year, based on the scholarships allocated for our country, a certain number of our students study free of charge at public universities in Turkiye.”
Reminding that Tajikistan has introduced visa-free entry to its country for Turkish citizens as of January 1, 2022, with its “open door policy”, Gulov emphasized that this initiative will contribute to the increase of tourist attraction between the two countries.
Source: AA / Prepared by Irem Yildiz