As part of the celebration of the second anniversary of the national Day of Entrepreneurs, on October 14 Dushanbe hosted the International Entrepreneurship Forum Dushanbe-2016, entitled “Development of national production - new investment opportunities”.
The annual International Entrepreneurship Forum is organized under the auspices of the Founder of Peace and National Unity – Leader of the nation, the President of the Republic of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon. The Forum represents the most important platform for dialogue between the government and the private sector and is the largest business and investment event in the country.
The Forum hosted the country's senior government officials and foreign official dignitaries, experts and company managers, representatives of the international financial institutions, global and regional enterprises.
The Forum’s objective was to introduce and explore new investment opportunities present in the Republic of Tajikistan, taking into account recent legal reforms. The forum’s topics explored increasing the processing of local raw materials, substitution of imports and the growth of exports. Other issues that received attention include strengthening the foreign direct investment processes.
The opening ceremony started with the speech of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Tajikistan, His Excellency Qohir Rasulzoda, who welcomed the participants and noted that Tajikistan is open for cooperation on the basis of respect and neighborly relations with all states of the region and the world. He stated the country was ready to further raise the level of cooperation for greater economic growth.
National production was the central theme of the Forum, one of the key sectors of the economy that provides the consumer market with domestic goods, export growth, strengthening of the balance of payments and currency exchange rate and contributes to the improvement of people’s standard of living.
While noting economic achievements, panel’s discussions also emphasized the need to address outstanding issues, such as simplifying administrative procedures regulating exports, establishing a comprehensive support framework for domestic enterprises, reconsidering the certain bonus payments and better attracting investors in the sale of products during the crisis. Other issues raised included providing financial support, optimizing customs and tax privileges.
High-profile foreign dignitaries and investors attended the Forum: the prince of Saudi Arabia, His Royal Highness Faisal bin Abdulaziz bin Abdulmajid bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Deputy Regional Director of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development in Central Asia Mr. McCain Neil and Regional Leader for Telecommunications at the World Bank Mr. Sector Mr. Rajendra Singh. Among prominent corporations, participants who spoke at the Forum included Glencore International CEO Mr. Ivan Glasenberg, President of the China-Tajikistan Mining Company Mr. Jiang Rong Huang, Senior Vice President of Qatar Airways Mr. Ali Al Rais, and Vice-President of Airbus Mr. Allen Keith.
The Forum’s main work was organized into six panel sessions
The first panel dedicated to the investment-based economic policies. At the panel, the 2030 National Development Strategy was presented, highlighting the contribution of the private sector to achieve its strategic goals. The role of the free economic zones was considered for the development of national manufacturing as well as prospects for the development of the four FEZ were discussed.
The second panel, "Import substitution - new business and investment opportunities in Tajikistan" touched on the policy issues and opportunities to expand production of competitive products and help businesses find new markets. The panel explored the existing incentives to encourage greater domestic production, investment in import-substituting manufacturing capacities.
The energy panel centered on progress towards energy independence and on ways supply businesses with reliable energy services. Panelists presented the progress achieved so far on the implementation of strategic priorities, market-based reforms in the energy sector, and energy tariff policies. New areas were presented, including the energy services market and commercialization of heat supply.
The fourth panel explored the developments in the infrastructure and transport sectors. Panelists discussed opportunities and inhibiting issues for regional trade stemming from transport and logistics infrastructure, plans and ways to improve the transit potential of Tajikistan and plans to strengthen border infrastructure. Priorities of the country to achieve broader use of land transport opportunities and ensuring access to sea ports were also discussed.
The Agriculture panel, “Comparative advantages of Tajikistan in agriculture" presented progress on agrarian reform, showcasing a wide range of opportunities in agriculture. Businesses were invite to invest in the sector were opportunity exist to reduce the costs and increase the competitiveness of processed goods.
The tourism dedicated panel presented participants the regulatory improvements in tourism, and support infrastructure developments, which promotes growth of tourism industry. To showcase the existing potential and call for a more efficient use of tourism attractions, panelist presented the case of the Romit Valley in Rasht and Saghirdasht areas in Darvoz districts.
This year, more attention and time was provided for meetings between investors and entrepreneurs, bilateral meetings between businessmen and investors in the B2B format. Ministries and state agencies were available for meetings with the private sector as part of B2G meetings.
In the framework of the Forum a number of memoranda and agreements were signed and a resolution of the Forum was adopted.
