Tajikistan intends to stop export of cotton fiber and reduce aluminum exports by 2015

DUSHANBE, January 30, 2009, Asia-Plus - Economic Development and Trade Minister Ghulomjon Bobozoda told a press conference in Dushanbe on January 29 that Tajikistan intends to stop export of cotton fiber and reduce primary aluminum exports by 2015. According to him, the government has adopted programs for processing of cotton and aluminum in the country. “Implementation of these programs has already started and construction of new seven cotton-processing factories and one plant for producing aluminum cable is under way,” said Bobozoda. “The enterprise for producing aluminum cable will be able to meet requirements of the whole Central Asian region in its product.” By 2015, the whole cotton Tajikistan produces is expected to be processed into manufactured goods in the country and processing of primary aluminum into manufactured goods should be increased, the minister said, noting that aluminum and cotton fiber shares account for some 80 percent of Tajikistan’s exports. He also added that following the global financial crisis, Tajik Aluminum Company (Talco) had decreased production volumes by 25-30 percent. Because of severe electricity shortages, electricity supplies to the Tajik aluminum smelter have been decreased by 35 percent. According to the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade (MoEDT), Talco produced 399,000 tons of primary aluminum last year.