To highlight Tajikistan’s potential as an investment destination, the country invited government representatives, international financial institutions and investors - both foreign and local – to the Tajikistan Economic and Investment Forum in Dushanbe on Oct. 15.

Before the forum, the Financial Times and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) co-sponsored a leadership briefing, with German development agency GIZ, German development bank KfW and the International Finance Corporation, ahead of the first Tajikistan Foreign Investment Conference in order to facilitate a conversation. Investors from multiple countries – including China, Singapore and the West - attended. That briefing included discussion of investment climate, steps to increase transparency and the economic slowdown in Russia.

“The fact that the government has launched an investment conference on this level is a testament to how Tajikistan is opening up to the world," Richard Jones, the EBRD’s Head of Office in Dushanbe, said. "In a country which has traditionally relied on remittances and donors, there’s now talk about accessing global capital markets. Businesses have benefited from recent reforms, including simpler taxes and less red tape. By co-hosting the government-led forum and launching the informal event with the Financial Times, the EBRD aims to support better private-public dialogue and ultimately to bring more private investment into Tajikistan.”

Participants highlighted Tajikistan’s potential for advances in hydropower, agricultural business and transit, among other areas, and pointed out that Tajikistan needed to step up and increase its self promotion to attract potential investors.