On Wednesday June 21, the Khatlon regional legislature elected Khatlon governor Davlatali Said to Tajikistan’s upper house (Majlisi Milli) of parliament.  

In his address to the regional legislature members, Davlatali Said noted that “three or four direct investment projects are being implemented in the province today.” 

“But this is not our merit. There are also several government investment projects being implemented in the area in the fields of education, health care, road building and so forth.  These projects are also being implemented without our contribution,” the governor said.   

He further noted that attraction of foreign and local investments in the province’s economy is insufficient.

“In my opinion, it is necessary toc create a favorable environment for implementation of business projects and attraction of investments.  Therefore, I have instructed heads of cities and districts and government agencies active in the province to support the private sector and entrepreneurs,” said Davlatali Said.  “They [entrepreneurs] need to be treated with understanding and their problems solved.  In a word, we need to create an attractive image of Khatlon province.”   

“From now on, all structures will work to improve the business climate for entrepreneurs and investors,” the governor said.

According to him, they have a specific work plan and within its framework they have already met with top managers of the international financial institutions.  

“Khatlon province has the resources and capabilities to create millions of jobs.  We're not talking thousands or tens of thousands,” the governor said.

He also criticized the tourism system and expressed dissatisfaction with the number of tourists visiting the province.  

“We have historical relics, natural products, especially fruits, water reservoirs and a number of resort areas.  Why do not tourists come to us?  Because we could not correctly present the province’s tourism potential,” Davlatali Said noted. 

He said that only 16,000 tourists visited the province last year, while across the country their number, according to official statistical data, was one million people. 

“I understand there is a funding problem, but you could at least put things in order in these historical places.  It is also necessary to solve the problem of the lack of necessary infrastructure,” the governor added.