DUSHANBE, December 30, 2009, Asia-Plus  -- Poor access to short-term loans and high interest rates on them pose serious problems for development of private business in Tajikistan, Tajik entrepreneur Zayd Saidov said in an interview with Asia-Plus.

He noted that he would raise that issue at a meeting of representatives of Tajik business community with the president, which is expected to take place in Dushanbe on January, 2010.

According to him, Tajik private business has urgent needs in government’s support.  “Under the country’s legislation, entrepreneurship is under the protection of the government, however, in practice it is not,” Saidov noted.

Besides, he wants to bring the tax collection issue to president’s attention.  “The large number of taxes and high tax rates are hurting Tajik producer.  If we want domestic producers to manufacture competitive goods it is necessary to ease the tax burden on them,” said Saidov, “This will provide conditions for development of production and realization of products of local entrepreneurs at domestic market.”

Moreover, the majority of local enterprises have obsolete equipment.  “When entrepreneur delivers modern equipment from abroad he has to pay high taxes and customs duties,” he noted.