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Tajik expert: partnership with strong Russia "alliance for faster growth and security

DUSHANBE, January 13. /ITAR-TASS/. Neighbouring republic Tajikistan is set on its course to strengthen strategic partnership with Russia, Khudoberdi Kholiqnazarov, new head of the Centre for Strategic Studies under the state's president, told a media briefing on Monday.

“It is in the interests of Tajikistan to have such a strong partner as Russia,” he said, adding that “having Russia as an ally and partner allows our country to develop better and faster, alongside providing us with better security guarantees”.

According to the Russian embassy in the capital, Dushanbe, “Russia remains the main trade partner of Tajikistan, thereby being ahead of closest competitors Kazakhstan, China, Turkey and Iran”. In the past 10 months of last year, Russia’s trade with Tajikistan was worth more than $804 million.

Data also identifies Russia as Tajikistan’s main investment partner, with total exposure at $1.2 billion. Around 25 Russian companies and joint ventures have projects in the republic. Biggest names include Gazprom EP International B.V, Gazprom Neft-Tajikistan, Sangtuda 1 Hydroelectric Power Plant and major Russian mobile network providers Beeline and Megafon.

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