DUSHANBE, May 7, 2013, Asia-Plus  -- On Monday May 6, visiting Estonian Prime Minister Andrus Ansip was received by Tajik President Emomali Rahmon.

The two reportedly discussed bilateral cooperation between their countries in various fields.

Taking into consideration new opportunities of entering South Asian market, Rahmon and Ansip paid a special attention to expansion of economic, trade and investment cooperation, according to the Tajik president’s official website.  They also underlined the significance of the transit role of Estonia with its seaports.

They reportedly outlined sectors like hydropower, mining, food and light industries, agriculture and tourism, as areas of which could drive the bilateral trade cooperation between Tajikistan and Estonia.

The sides also exchanged views on bilateral cooperation between their countries in the fields of education, health care, science, technologies and culture.

Yesterday, Estonia Prime Minister Andrus Ansip also held talks with his Tajik counterpart Oqil Oqilov and Majlisi Namoyandagon (Tajikistan’s lower chamber of parliament) Speaker Shukurjon Zuhurov.

Ansip’s meeting with Oqilov reportedly focused on bilateral economic cooperation between Tajikistan and Estonia.

Mr. Ansip, in particular, noted that Tajikistan could use Estonia seaports for exporting its primary aluminum to Europe.  He also said that Tajik dried fruits were in demand in Europe.

Estonian prime minister also noted that Tajikistan and Estonia could cooperate in the fields of tourism and information technologies.

Over the past three years, a two-way trade between Tajikistan and Estonia has reportedly increased 5.3 times.  In 2012, trade between Tajikistan and Estonia amounted to 9.64 million U.S. dollars.  Over the first quarter of this year, trade between Tajikistan and Estonia has valued at 3.8 million U.S. dollars.