KHUJAND, October 13, 2009, Asia-Plus  -- The state unitary enterprise, Zarya Vostoka (it is based in the northern city of Taboshar), is currently experiencing shortage of manpower, and therefore, it cannot increase production volumes, the enterprise director Abdurahim Rasoulov said in an interview with Asia-Plus.

According to him, four workshops of the plant that were restructured for production of non-defense output are kept operational.  “The plant now manufactures rubbers, polymers, polymeric pipes, hoses and silicate paints,” said the director, “This year, we have produced more than 2 million somoni worth of output.”

Rasoulov says the workshops now operate only at 25 percent of their capacity because of serious competition, especial “on the part of Chinese companies.”  “However, the enterprise has old partners and manages to realize its products,” he said, noting that more than 400 people work for the plant at an average monthly wage of more than 300 somoni.