The main reason Tajikistan's authorities are reluctant to join the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) is their desire to maintain control over their own markets, stated Alexey Zubets, director of the Center for Social Economy Studies, Sputnik Tajikistan reports.
"When joining the EAEU, you open your markets to companies from other countries. This means that suppliers from stronger states, such as Russia and Kazakhstan, will enter the food and industrial goods markets," Zubets said.
The expert noted that the longer Tajikistan's market remains isolated from EAEU countries, the more it lags behind. He explained that without serious competitors, there is no incentive for development.
"Maintaining isolation means preserving backwardness and lowering quality. Additionally, Tajikistan's inclusion in the EAEU would provide a basis for an influx of investments," Zubets explained.
Tajikistan has been considering joining the EAEU since 2015, a step that could benefit domestic producers and consumers. Tajikistan's Foreign Minister Sirojiddin Mukhriddin emphasized the importance of studying the experiences of other countries, including Kyrgyzstan and Armenia, before making a decision on joining the union.
CentralasianLIGHT.org
December 13, 2024