Meeting with Tajikistan President Emomali Rahmon

Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko met with Tajikistan President Emomali Rahmon in the Palace of Independence in Minsk on 22 November.

The Belarusian leader said: “We welcome you as a friend. You are very close to the Belarusian nation. You are very well known. You are respected for your openness, simplicity, warm-heartedness just like the entire Tajik nation is.”

Aleksandr Lukashenko mentioned the development of the Tajik economy despite the complicated situation around the country. “I know that the situation is not simple for all of us. Yours has never been simple. You feel heat from the south all the time. I know that things are complicated. But I am always amazed by your ability to keep the economy going in such a situation. I am very glad that you grow gradually but confidently in power engineering. I will be very glad if you sell a huge amount of electricity in that region. It will be a good revenue for the hardworking Tajik people,” the head of state said.

Commenting on the bilateral relations, the Belarus President mentioned rather good trade turnover and this year’s increase in it. “Our trade turnover will be close to $100 million. But I want you to understand that we are ready to buy any amount of your products. Particularly agricultural ones, which unfortunately we don’t have. This is why Tajikistan has contacted us with a request to set up a powerful trade center here. You have to know that we will do everything to set up the center. We’ve offered three locations in Minsk to your initiators. If you don’t like them, we can find more. We are ready to work on it together with you,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.

“All your products that you make – aluminum, cotton, and the rest – will enjoy a very serious demand here if you can deliver them to us. In other words, our economy, politics, and humanitarian affairs develop rather well. We also work quite well in military technology cooperation. We are ready to increase trade turnover to the extent the friendly country of Tajikistan needs,” the Belarus President added.