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Vladimir Putin and Emomali Rahmon made statements for the press
Following Russian-Tajikistani talks, Vladimir Putin and Emomali Rahmon made statements for the press.
President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, friends,
We are delighted to welcome President of the Republic of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon on his official visit to Russia. Let me stress that our talks with Mr Rahmon today were held, as per tradition, in a friendly and businesslike atmosphere and were very constructive.
Relations between Russia and Tajikistan are a true strategic partnership and alliance. They are based on the immutable principles of mutual respect, equality, and consideration of each other’s interests. Most importantly, they continue to develop steadily and dynamically.
Russia is among Tajikistan’s largest foreign trade partners. Last year, trade grew by more than seven percent reaching $1.5 billion. Russia is a leading investor in Tajikistan’s economy. More than 300 enterprises with Russian participation operate in the republic, and our capital investments amount to $1.6 billion in total.
It is important that Russia and Tajikistan have almost completely stopped using foreign currency in mutual settlements. The share of the ruble in commercial transactions exceeded 96 percent at the end of last year. Sustainable channels of credit and banking cooperation are being consistently built. A number of Tajikistan’s banks have connected to the financial message transmission system of the Central Bank of Russia.
Russian and Tajikistani citizens have the opportunity to make cross-border money transfers through the fast payment system. Issues related to wider use of the Mir Russian payment cards in Tajikistan are being resolved.
The two countries’ governments are constantly working to improve the regime of mutual trade and investments and to create conditions for new mutually beneficial projects.
The economic cooperation programmes signed last October are being implemented. The relevant departments of the two countries have developed an action plan to increase bilateral trade turnover by 2.5 times by 2030.
Russia supplies large volumes of oil and oil products to Tajikistan, almost completely covering the needs of the Tajik economy for hydrocarbons. Moreover, fuel is supplied are export customs duties.
Gazprom Neft is actively operating on the Tajik market, owning a network of oil depots and petrol stations and providing a significant share of all tax payments to the state budget of the country.
Russia is helping Tajikistan develop hydropower. The Sangtuda hydroelectric power station, built with Russian participation, produces 12 percent of the electricity consumed by the republic.
Russian companies are ready to continue assisting in operating and upgrading existing generation capacities in Tajikistan based on the most advanced technological and environmental standards.
Industrial cooperation is also deepening. Russian BTK Group is implementing a project to create a full-cycle light industry cluster in the republic, starting from cotton cultivation to the production of finished garments.
Deliveries of mechanical engineering products, cars, pipes, rolled metal products to the Tajik market have been established, and, in accordance with the intergovernmental agreement signed today in Dushanbe, a Russian-Tajik Industrial Park will soon be set up.
It is well known that about a million of Tajiks live and work in Russia. They are employed in various sectors, especially such dynamically progressing ones as construction and housing and utilities, transport, and logistics. They make a big contribution to the development of the Russian economy. It is important that their remittances to their homeland are a serious help for both Tajikistan and their families.
We work to ensure that the Tajikistani citizens in Russia have decent working conditions and social protection. Russian specialised bodies maintain a constant dialogue with their Tajik colleagues and provide them with most detailed explanations of the migration rules.
I would also like to note that our country provides Tajikistan with significant donor assistance. School meals programmes, irrigation system upgrading, and many other projects in important areas of Tajik society are covered with Russian funds.
Cooperation in the cultural and humanitarian sphere is advancing. As is know, Russian has the constitutional status of the language of interethnic communication in Tajikistan. We are very grateful to the President of Tajikistan for such a careful attitude towards the Russian language.
In this context, let me note a successfully implemented joint project of school instruction in Russian: five schools in Dushanbe and other cities of Tajikistan, where about 5,500 schoolchildren study according to Russian educational curricula and standards. Almost 100 Russians teachers were sent to Tajikistan last year as part of the Russian Teacher Abroad project.
To be continued.
See also
Russian-Tajikistani talks
March 17, 2025