Today, within the framework of state visit to the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, the meeting of the Founder of Peace and National Unity – Leader of the Nation, President of the Republic of Tajikistan, His Excellency Emomali Rahmon was held with entrepreneurs, investors and heads of this country’s companies in Colombo city.

At the beginning, the national anthems of Tajikistan and Sri Lanka were performed and then Acting Foreign Affairs Minister of Sri Lanka Harsha de Silva opened the event with introductory remarks.

At the forum, the President of the Republic of Tajikistan His Excellency Emomali Rahmon made a meaningful speech.

Head of State, having assessed this meeting as an important step towards the establishment of mutually beneficial trade and economic cooperation, introduced to a wide range of business and financial representatives of Sri Lanka the great cooperation and investment opportunities in Tajikistan.

It was stressed that the existing legislation of the Republic of Tajikistan envisages a set of guarantees and preferences for investors, in particular, the Tax Code for business development provides for more than 240 of privileges and preferences.

Head of State Emomali Rahmon noted that we have created the conditions for free competition, promoting trade, free import and export of capital, and domestic currency conversion.

The membership of our country in the World Trade Organization testifies to the compliance of our legislation with international standards.

It was noted that today Tajikistan as part of its long-term national development strategy provides a number of effective economic programs, the implementation of which requires to attract more foreign investment.

For our country, the priority areas of cooperation with foreign investment and business community are projects in the areas of hydropower, light and food industry, extraction of minerals, processing of agricultural products, and construction of tourism, transport and communications infrastructure, as well as export of drinking water.

At the conclusion of his speech, the President of the Republic of Tajikistan His Excellency Emomali Rahmon expressed confidence that the development of cooperation in various sectors, as well as the use of resources and opportunities will be useful for the peoples of the two countries.

The entrepreneurs and investors of Sri Lanka were invited to visit Tajikistan for a closer acquaintance and the establishment of close mutually beneficial cooperation, and to participate in the creation of joint ventures in the areas of beekeeping, production and export of fruits and vegetables, processing of mining minerals, agricultural products, cotton-fiber and primary aluminum, as well as the development of tourism, especially mountain tourism.

Following the meeting, the economic opportunities of Tajikistan were in detail presented and between the members of the official delegation of Tajikistan and representatives of business and investment community of Sri Lanka a useful exchange of views was held.

Here, in order to develop and expand trade and economic cooperation, the sides signed a Memorandum of Understanding between the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Republic of Tajikistan and Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Sri Lanka, as well as a Memorandum of Understanding between the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Republic of Tajikistan and Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Colombo on the development of bilateral trade and cooperation of entrepreneurs of the two countries.