Doha, 12 Sept. 2021 (QT)

By Ashraf Siddiqui

The Qatar-Tajikistan Joint Inter-governmental Commission on Economic, Trade, and Technical Cooperation will meet in Doha sometime in the fourth quarter of this year, Ambassador of Tajikistan to Qatar Khisrav Sohibzoda has said.

Speaking at a press conference held recently, on the occasion of his country’s 30thIndependence Day, he saidthe coming period would see more work from both sides to capitalise on the opportunities available to activate the strong bilateral ties for the benefit of both countries.

He said Qatar is a leading Arab country in the Tajikistan investment market through the ‘Dushanbe Diyar’ project, which is being developed by Qatari Diar. He hoped that this project, as a successful model for Qatari investments, would encourage Qatari investors to enter the Tajikistan investment market with confidence.

“Tajikistan is looking forward to the Qatari side studying the possibility of establishing a joint consultancy agency or company to prepare and implement mutually invested projects in Tajikistan,” said the Tajik envoy.

He praised the outcomes of previous official mutual summit visits between the two countries, “which undoubtedly laid solid foundations and rules for building distinguished relations between our two countries and raising them to desired levels”.

The Tajik ambassador expressed his country’s excitement for the Amir His Highness Sheikh Tamim binHamad Al Thani’s visit to Tajikistan, saying, “it will be a
historic visit that will usher in a new, qualitative stage inthe path of mutually beneficial cooperation relations between the two brotherly countries”.

The ambassador said his country is looking forward toHH the Amir’s visit to Tajikistan, revealing that 14 memorandums of understanding(MoUs) will be signed during the visit of HH The Amir ofQatar. “It will be a historic visit,” he said, “which will mark a new qualitative milestone, providing a distinct legal ground for
activating and strengthening cooperation relations betweenthe two countries”.

Sohibzoda added that the Tajik side is looking forward toQatar Airways operating directflights between Doha and Dushanbe as soon as possible, as all necessary steps have been taken, including the establishment of a legal framework for flights between the two capitals.

“Qatar is an important Middle Eastern partner forTajikistan, and thus there is a desire to strengthen and activate cooperation in a variety of fields, including electricity, agriculture, industry and mining, transportation and communications, tourism, higher education and scientific research, culture and arts, and    humanitarian and social affairs.”

On Tajikistan’s achievements in the 30 years since independence, Sohibzodo said many these include Tajikistan’s emergence on the political map of the world as
an independent country and its eligibility to be a legitimate member of the United Nations. “Second, the election of the founder of peace and national unity — the leader of the nation, and President of the Republic of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon — as head of state ensured the restoration of all institutions of government, peace, unity, and mutual understanding in the country, and Tajikistan’s achievement of peace became a unique example for the entire world community”.

“Third, the beginning of the modern era’s formation of the nation state, and the construction of the national state for the nation’s leader to create a sovereign state as well as a democratic and legal state aimed at building a just society.”