Azerbaijan Interested in Investment Opportunities in Tajikistan

Azerbaijan is interested in investment projects in Tajikistan, Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev said at a joint press conference in Baku following the talks with Tajikistan's President Imamali Rahmonov. It was agreed that experts from SOCAR, state-run oil company of Azerbaijan, would visit Tajikistan to explore ways of cooperation in oil and gas sector. Azerbaijan has enough financial and technical capacity to make investments in oil sector and other industries of Tajikistan. An intergovernmental commission, to be created in accordance with the decision of the two presidents will set out concrete tasks, Ilham Aliyev said. Tajik President said that over the next 5-7 years it is possible to increase goods turnover between the two states up to $500-700 million. During the Soviet times geological exploration revealed hydrocarbon resources in Tajikistan. Dushanbe requires the help of experienced Azerbaijani geologists, Rahmonov said. There is also the potential to expand cooperation in ferrous metallurgy. The Ganja aluminum factory delivers to Tajikistan approximately 300,000 tons of aluminum. It was agreed that Azerbaijan will provide Tajikistan with raw ferrous and receive semi-ready components for aluminum industry. Bilateral cooperation, regional security, settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, drug trafficking, international fight against terrorism were also discussed during the talks. Aliyev stated that soon the Azerbaijani embassy will be established in Tajikistan.