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Lukashenko invites Tajikistan to privatise Baranovichi-based cotton plant

"Belarus is interested in this cooperation, which has no political pre-conditions," said Belarusian President

DUSHANBE, October 28 (Itar-Tass) — Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has invited Tajikistan to take part in the privatisation of the country’s biggest cotton production amalgamation in the city of Baranovichi.

The proposal was made to Tajikistani President Emomali Rakhmon during an expanded meeting between the delegations of Tajikistan and Belarus, an official at the Belarusian delegation told Itar-Tass on Friday.

Lukashenko invited Tajikistan’s specialists in Baranovichi to familiarise themselves with the work of the plant. “I am ready to consider the issue of the plant’s privatisation,” he said.

In his words, “Belarus is interested in this cooperation, which has no political pre-conditions.”

Rakhmon, in turn, said that Tajik farmers gathered a big harvest of cotton (more than 400,000 tonnes), in spite of this year’s dry spring and hot summer. Cotton is the strategic export product for Tajikistan. It brings up to 16 percent of the total export incomes to the budget. Belarus is one of its importers.

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