The European Union Integrated Rural Development Project/ TRIGGER conducted the 8th Dushanbe Economic Meeting under the theme the Development of the Green Economy in Tajikistan.

In particular, within the framework of the implementation of the message of the President of the Republic of Tajikistan dated December 21, 2021 "On the main directions of the internal and foreign policy of the Republic of Tajikistan", the Development Strategy of the Green Economy in the Republic of Tajikistan (RT) for the years 2023-2037 was developed.

The Conference was opened by the Deputy Minister of Economic Development and Trade of the Republic of Tajikistan, Mr. Farhod Vosidiyon, who informed participants that the Development Strategy of the Green Economy in RT for 2023-2037 was adopted in Tajikistan on September 30, 2022.

The Deputy Minister of Energy and Water Resources of RT, Mr. Safarzoda Manuchehr Bahadur made a presentation on “Green energy in Tajikistan”.

The hybrid format Meeting (in a conference hall and via internet access) brought together 150 local and international participants representing private and public sectors, who jointly discussed the development of the Green Economy in Tajikistan.  Attendees also exhibited their products and services as a result of their successful work and activities.

“Climate change and environmental degradation are an existential threat to Europe as to Tajikistan”, stated Mr. Raimundas Karoblis, Head of EU Delegation in Tajikistan, “we need a modern, resource efficient and competitive Green Economy.”

During the conference, ministries and state agencies of Tajikistan reported on strategic documents and economic policies aimed at the development of a green economy, learned about the experience of implementation of green economy principles by the private sector, and discussed the regional and international experience. 

An important part of the Dushanbe Economic Meeting were discussions between government agencies, the private sector, business associations and academia representatives.

“Tajikistan sees a need for Green Economy Development primarily because the population in rural areas depends on natural resource and their protection”, as noted by Ms. Sabine Olthof, GIZ Director in Tajikistan, “therefore Green Economy is actively discussed in Tajikistan on a national level, but also with international partners”.

As a result of the discussions, participants defined a common vision of the state of the green economy in the medium term and made recommendations to translate this vision into reality.

Dushanbe Economic Meeting is an established platform for dialogue between the private and public sectors of Tajikistan.  It is supported by GIZ since 2014. Each year, a specific topic of discussion is selected.  Tajik partners, who were closely involved in organising the Dushanbe Economic Meeting in 2014-2019 include Ministry of Economic Development and Trade, Ministry of Agriculture, the Centre for Strategic Research under the President of Tajikistan, the State Committee on Investments and State Unitary Enterprise TajInvest, Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Advisory Council for improving the investment climate under the President of Tajikistan, the National Associations of Small and Medium Business of Tajikistan, the Union of Professional Consultants of Tajikistan and the Internet community “Economic News Tajikistan”. 

\The Integrated Rural Development Project (IRDP)/ Towards Rural Inclusive Growth and Economic Resilience (TRIGGER)` is a joint project of the European Union and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) to boost the added value of agricultural production in Tajikistan by improving water security and sustainability, enhancing the productivity of selected value chains, supporting market development, export readiness, enterprise promotion and economic policy advice.