DUSHANBE, December 22, 2015, Asia-Plus – Majlisi Namoyandagon (Tajikistan’s lower house of parliament) Shukurjon Zuhurov on December 21 met in Kuwait City with Adviser at the Council of Ministers of Kuwait,  Dr. Abdullah Matouq Al-Matouq, who is also Board Chairman of the International Islamic Charity Organization (IICO), according to Muhammadato Sultonov, a spokesman for Majlisi Namoyandagon.

The two reportedly discussed issues related to attraction of Kuwait investments for development of private sector of Tajikistan’s economy.

Tajik parliament speaker, in particular, noted that Tajikistan was interested in Kuwait’s investment in creating new jobs in the country, supporting Tajik private entrepreneurs through providing them with preferential loans, opening branches of Kuwait’s banks in Tajikistan, etc.

Dr. Abdullah Matouq Al-Matouq, for his part, noted that Kuwait is ready to expand cooperation with Tajikistan in all fields and outlined sectors like tourism and agriculture as areas that could drive bilateral trade between Kuwait and Tajikistan, Sultonov said.

Headquartered in south of Surra, close to Kuwait City, the International Islamic Charity Organization (IICO) describes itself as “independent non-political organization which offers a wide range of pure humanitarian services.”  The IICO has listed branches in the Middle East, Africa, Russia, and Central Asia and as late as 2008, the United States.

IICO was reportedly established in 1986 to meet the increasing urgent needs in poor societies especially in Muslim countries and communities where poverty, illiteracy, unemployment, diseases, famine, and other difficult situations are persisting.