DUAHNBE, January 31, Asia-Plus - Russian Ambassador to Tajikistan Ramazan Abdulatipov told journalists in Dushanbe yesterday that Russia attached important significance to its economic cooperation with Tajikistan. 

According to him, compared to 2005 a trade between Tajikistan and Russia last year increased by 50 percent and amounted to some $490 million.  This consisted of Tajikistan’s exports to Russia estimated at $65.4 million and Tajikistan’s imports from Russia worth $423.7 million.  “Last year, Russia invested nearly $250 million in Tajikistan’s economy,” Abdulatipov added.    

“At present 60 Russian regions cooperate with Tajikistan in various fields of economy,” the ambassador said, noting that some 70 joint enterprises with participation of Russian capital have to date operated in Tajikistan.  

Assessing the present state of Russian-Tajik relations, Abdulatipov noted that although compared to the previous years cooperation between the two countries had expanded “it is not enough especially with regard to our potentials and demands.”