His Excellency Abdullah bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy and Tourism, led a delegation from the United Arab Emirates to participate in the UAE-Tajikistan Business Forum held in Dushanbe, the capital of Tajikistan. The event aimed to strengthen economic partnerships between the public and private sectors, explore promising opportunities in priority sectors, and foster direct communication between business communities in both nations.
During his visit, Abdullah bin Touq engaged in a series of bilateral meetings with high-ranking Tajik officials, including His Excellency Qohir Rasulzoda, Prime Minister of Tajikistan. Discussions focused on enhancing economic cooperation between the two countries and promoting partnerships in priority sectors, particularly in the new economy, renewable energy, infrastructure, and advanced technology. He also met with Sherali Kabir, Minister of Industry and New Technologies; Faiziddin Qahhorzoda, Minister of Finance; and Zavqi Zavqizoda, Minister of Economic Development and Trade. Additionally, bin Touq conversed with Nazarzod Habibullo Timoor, Director of the Civil Aviation Agency in Tajikistan, regarding ways to boost collaboration in aviation and tourism, including expanding services and increasing connectivity between the nations.
The UAE delegation was comprised of prominent government officials, including Dr. Mohamed Al-Ariqi, the UAE Ambassador to Tajikistan, along with representatives from federal and local entities and private sector companies operating in various priority economic sectors in the UAE. This included members from the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure, the Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce, the General Civil Aviation Authority, Masdar, Fly Dubai, 40 Capital, E-Point Zero, and Abu Dhabi First Bank.
In his opening address at the forum, Abdullah bin Touq emphasized the notable growth in economic relations between the UAE and Tajikistan, highlighting the strong bilateral ties and mutual desire to expand cooperation across diverse developmental areas. He pointed out that the forum serves as a strategic platform to support interaction between the business communities of both countries and develop economic partnerships between the public and private sectors to meet their developmental objectives, enhance market integration, and offer new opportunities for economic growth and sustainable development. He stated, “We view Tajikistan as an important economic partner and a promising market in Central Asia.” The UAE ranks as the second-largest global investor in Tajikistan, with investments nearing one billion dollars projected from 2020 to 2024, and non-oil trade between the two nations surged by over 33% in 2024, reaching approximately 360 million dollars.