The foreign trade turnover of Tajikistan with Central Asian countries increased by 23% in 2022, announced Zavki Zavkizoda, the Minister of Economic Development and Trade of Tajikistan, at the opening of an economic forum in Dushanbe held within the framework of the fifth consultative meeting of the heads of states in the region, TASS reports.
"One of Tajikistan's key trading partners is Central Asian countries, particularly Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan. In 2022, Tajikistan's foreign trade turnover with Central Asian countries increased by 23%, and the share of the region's countries in Tajikistan's total trade turnover was approximately 30%," stated the head of the department.
In 2022, Tajikistan's GDP in real terms increased by 8%, and the inflation rate for 2022 was 4.2%, which is 3.8 percentage points lower than in 2021, said Zavkizoda.
The region can become a center of attraction for global trade and financial flows and is also an important market for producers of goods and services, according to the Tajik minister.
Zavkizoda noted that the combined GDP of Central Asia has increased more than sevenfold over the last 20 years, with an average annual economic growth rate of the region at 6.2%, whereas the average annual global economic growth over the same period was only 2.6%.
Furthermore, the foreign trade turnover of Central Asian countries has increased sixfold, the volume of accumulated direct investments in the region has grown 17 times, and "one of the most important indicators in the modern world—population—has increased by 1.4 times."
"These figures indicate the broad prospects and opportunities of the Central Asian region, and with their rational use, we can achieve tremendous economic development," emphasized the minister.
CentralasianLIGHT.org
September 14, 2023