DUSHANBE, 15 May (BelTA) – Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko has arrived in Tajikistan on an official visit, BelTA has learned.
The program of the visit, which is to last through 16 May, will include Belarus president's one-on-one talks and an extended meeting with President Emomali Rahmon of Tajikistan. The heads of state will review the progress made and discuss plans to expand trade and economic cooperation, joint work in the manufacturing industry, the implementation of joint projects, and investment cooperation, and also joint activities on third markets. Bilateral documents are expected to be signed during the visit.
The presidents are expected to sign bilateral documents. As Belarus' Ambassador to Tajikistan Oleg Ivanov told BelTA, there are nearly 15 documents ready for signing. They will include a roadmap for Belarus-Tajikistan bilateral cooperation for 2019-2020.
The presidents will take part in the opening of Belarus' national expo in Tajikistan and a series of other events. The heads of state will also visit the plant assembling Belarusian farming machinery in Hisor.
Dushanbe is set to host the Belarus-Tajikistan-Afghanistan business forum, which will be also attended by representatives of other countries of the region. The plans are in place to sign a number of business agreements and memorandums.
Dushanbe and other cities of the countries are currently hosting Days of Belarusian Culture and Cinema in Tajikistan.
Two centers are currently opened at the Technical University of Tajikistan. They are a center of Belarusian legal information and a center of the Belarusian language, culture and education. The parties are expected to sign education agreements.
The political agenda is eventful as will. Taking into account Tajikistan's presidency in the CIS, the program will include events related to the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, the implementation of peacekeeping and counter-terrorism initiatives and cooperation in the international arena.
In 2017 Belarus and Tajikistan reached $429 million in mutual trade, which is twice as much as in 2016. Further growth was registered in 2018. In January-March the bilateral trade increased by 47% as against Q1 2017. The Belarusian export to Tajikistan soared 60%. A commodity distribution network of more than 15 Belarusian companies operates in Tajikistan. The network comprises Belarusian companies such as BelAZ, MAZ, MTZ, Amkodor, Gomselmash, Bobruiskagromash and others. A plant to assemble MTZ tractors was launched in late 2017.
