An international investment forum, dubbed Pamir Invest 2019, is expected to take place in Khorog, the capital of the Gorno Badakhshan Autonomous Region (GBAO), from August 6-7      

Organized by the State Committee on Investment and State-owned Property Management (GosKomInvest), Tourism Development Committee, GBAO Government, the Association of Entrepreneurs and Mountain Farmers “Milal Inter” and the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN), the forum is expected to bring together local and foreign investors, representatives of Tajikistan’s ministries and agencies as well as representatives of international organizations to discuss issues related to economic development of the Gorno Badakhshan Autonomous Region.

According to the forum’s websites, the main objective of the forum is in attracting local and foreign investment to promote development of tourism and relevant industries in the region, promoting establishing trade and economic cooperation of the GBAO with neighboring regions and countries, speeding up the implementation of the GBAO economic development programs and promoting effective use of the existing opportunities and mineral resources of the region.   

The forum organizers are also interested in involving entrepreneurs, who are originally from Gorno Badakhshan but doing business outside the region, in implementation of the economic development projects in the region.   

The key issues that are expected to be discussed at the upcoming forum:

• development of manufacturing enterprises, including joint ventures based on extensive use of local natural resources;
• creation of the enterprises for processing farm produce;
• development of tourism and relevant industries in the region;
• development of the Ishkashim free economic zone;  
• removal of bureaucratic and other obstacles in the way of development of small and medium-sized enterprises in the region.

The forum will also seek to establish a Regional Coordinating Council to promote trade and economic cooperation in the region.

Since 2011, five international investment forums have been held in Khorog and more than 700 people have participated in those forums.