DUSHANBE, January 20, 2009, Asia-Plus  -- President Emomali Rahmon has charged the Ministry of Energy and Industries (MoEI) to work out the program for development of production of building materials in Tajikistan for 2009-2015, according to presidential press service.

The president remarked this on January 16, while speaking at a two-day government session that was held on January 15-16 to review the country’s economic results in 2008.  Rahmon demanded at the meeting that the draft program should be prepared by the end of the first half-year of 2009.

Speaking at the meeting, the head of state expressed concern that 230 of 781 industrial enterprises failed last year to reach the 2007 level.  Moreover, 97 enterprises were not in operation last year.

Damage caused by last year’s decrease in production of industrial and agricultural goods to the country’s economy has amounted to 3.5 billion somoni, the president said.