Baku, Azerbaijan, Aug. 3
By Fikret Dolukhanov – Trend:
Tajikistan plans to begin construction of a cement plant in Surkhandarya region in the south of Uzbekistan in the near future, Uzbek media reported referring to Minister of Economic Development and Trade of Tajikistan Nematullo Hikmatullozoda.
“The plant will be built by a private company that produces cement in Tajikistan. We welcome and support intention of Tajik private businesses to invest in the economy of the neighboring state,” Hikmatullozoda said.
According to him, the trade turnover between Tajikistan and Uzbekistan will grow to $1 billion in the near future.
“This became possible thanks to the relations between Tashkent and Dushanbe radically changing for the better recently,” the minister underlined.
He noted that the total trade turnover between Tajikistan and Uzbekistan amounted to $128.3 million in 1H2018, which is $69 million more compared to 1H2017. Of these, $75 million accounted for exports from Tajikistan, and $53.3 million - for imports.
It was earlier reported that the Central Asia's largest plant for production of Portland cement is to be opened in the Sherabad district of the Surkhandarya region of Uzbekistan by the end of August 2018.
The facility, with a total cost of over $212.8 million, after reaching full capacity, will produce 1.5 million tons of products per year.
The project is financed by own funds of Almalyk Mining and Metallurgical Combine, totaling $24.4 million, a $90 million loan from the Fund for Reconstruction and Development of Uzbekistan, and $110.6 million in loans from commercial banks.
In 1H2018, the enterprises of Uzbekistan have produced 3,953,800 tons of cement, which is 5.83 percent less compared to 1H2017.
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