DUSHANBE, October 26, Asia-Plus  -- Tajikistan offers the European Union (EU) countries to intensify bilateral cooperation and change status of the OSCE Center in Dushanbe, Tajik Foreign Minister Hamrokhon Zarifi remarked at a meeting with a group of EU countries ambassadors  to Tajikistan in Dushanbe yesterday.

            “Earlier our relations had been limited mainly to cooperation in the humanitarian sphere,” said the minister, “In our opinion, time has come to expand bilateral ties.”

            Zarifi noted that adoption of a new Strategy of the European Union for Central Asia would give both sides new opportunities, and called on the EU countries actively participate in implementation of hydroelectricity projects in Tajikistan and extending communication potential. 

            On the cooperation with OSCE, the minister asked to take into account “change of economic and political situation in Central Asia as a whole and Tajikistan in particular and consider the issue of opening of the regional structure on economic and ecological issues at the OSCE Center in Dushanbe.”

            Zarifi noted that some two billion somonis (equivalent to $608.4 million) worth of foreign investments were attracted in Tajikistan in 2006.  Of this amount, 1.3 billion somonis ($394 million) were direct investments.  “However, new stage of economic development requires more investments and improvement of the investment climate,” the minister said.

            British Ambassador to Tajikistan Mr. Graeme Loten, for his part, noted that the European Union is actively cooperating with Tajikistan in providing stability and security in the region, strengthening protection of borer with Afghanistan. 

According to him, Tajikistan needs investments from private companies and in order to interest them Tajikistan ought to improve some conditions.  Information about investment process should be more open, and complex and sometimes contradictory legislation requires simplification, the ambassador said.  Fight against corruption, which has a range of negative effects on Tajikistan’s development, should be conducted at all levels.  “We would also like to see simplified and liberal visa regime both for potential investors and tourists,” Mr. Loten said.