Tajik President Emomali Rahmon addressed a joint meeting of both chambers (Majlisi Namoyandagon and Majlisi Milli) of the parliament (Majlisi Ol) on December 22.    

Parliamentarians, members of the government, heads of ministries and agencies, senior representatives of president’s executive office as well as regional administrators attended the session.

As usual, in his address to the parliament, the president discussed the country’s priorities in domestic politics and foreign policy as well as the main economic challenges.

Domestic politics

In his address to the parliament, Emomali Rahmon, in particular, touched upon the issues related to the social care problems.

He said that public sector wages, pensions and student grants would be raised by 15 percent from September 1, 2018.   

Wages for special military ranks, servicemen and the staff of the power-wielding agencies will be raised 10 percent from September 1, 2017.  

Speaking at the session, the president expressed concern about unfounded repeated inspections of enterprises that “impedes development of business in the country.” He ordered to announce a two-year moratorium on inspection of manufacturing entrepreneurship.

Foreign policy

President Rahmon noted that Tajikistan has also been for expansion of security cooperation with all counties of the world. 

Rahmon said that the problem of terrorism and extremism has reached threatening levels.  “This year alone, terrorist attacks have been committed in hundred countries around the world,” the president noted.  

According to him, Dushanbe will host an international conference on problems of combating terrorism in May next year.  

Emomali Rahmon noted that expansion of cooperation with Central Asia’s is one of priorities of Tajikistan’s foreign policy.

“We come out for free movement of people, commodities and services in Central Asia and welcome cooperation between the countries of the region in the sphere of security,” the president said.  

Rahmon also stressed that Tajikistan attaches significance to expansion of cooperation with the CIS nations.  

He call on international community to provide an efficient support for establishment of peace and stability in Afghanistan. 

The head of state ordered the government to actively use the so-called economic diplomacy and protect national interests of Tajikistan on international arena.  

Economic diplomacy is a form of diplomacy using the full spectrum economic tools of the state to achieve its national interest. Economic diplomacy includes all the economic activities, including but not limited to export, import, investment, lending, aid, free trade agreements, etc.

Economic challenges

Emomali Rahmon ordered to develop an additional plan of actions to improve activities of two commercial banks of Tajikistan – Tojik Sodirot Bonk (TSB) and Agroinvestbonk.  

The previous measures, according to him, were unsatisfactory. 

The head of state ordered the National Bank of Tajikistan (NBT) to reform the country’s monetary and credit system, using experience of the advanced countries.

For the purpose of creating a health competition in the country’s market of banking services and improving access of the population to financial services as well as increasing investment to improve the banking sector, the president ordered to reduce minimum capital requirements for newly established banks from 80 million somoni to 50 million somoni.

“A poor banking as well as monetary and credit system seriously hampers economic development of the country,” Rahmon said.  

Speaking at the session, the head of state expressed concern about increase in corruption, which is a strong constraint on growth and development, among officials.

Compared to the last year, cases of corruption have increased this year among public servants and officers of the law enforcement and power-wielding agencies, Rahmon said      

He, in particular, pointed out increase in corruption among employees of the ministries of education and labor, as well as land management agency, tax committee, committee for youth and sports affairs, courts and local authorities.  

“Compared to 2016, corruption among representatives of local authorities this year has increased by 25 percent,” Rahmon said.