Iran sets up exclusive trade fair in Tajikistan

TEHRAN,June 8(MNA) – The second exclusive expo of Iranian goods and industries opened on Monday in Tajikistan’s capital, Dushanbe. Some 56 industrial companies have put their products on display in the healthcare, food, home appliance, carpet, petrochemical, building, and agriculture sectors. Iran carried out about $26 million in direct investment plans in Tajikistan in 2012, making Iran the fifth largest investor in Tajikistan. Iranian investment in Tajikistan declined compared to 2011 since a number of major economic projects by Iran, including the Sang Toodeh power plant, have been terminated in Tajikistan. In October 2012, Iran and Tajikistan signed a memorandum of understanding to expand relations between their free trade zones. The MOU was signed on the sidelines of the exclusive exhibition on potentials of Iran's free zones, which was held in Tajikistan's capital Dushanbe. The agreement would give a boost to economic, industrial and cultural ties between the two countries. According to Tehran's ambassador to Dushanbe, Ali-Asghar Sherdoost, trade between Iran and Tajikistan exceeded $500 million in 2011.