The 13th meeting of the Supervisory Board of Free Economic Zones was held at the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade.

  

On April 18, 2025, a regular meeting of the Supervisory Board of Free Economic Zones was held at the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade, chaired by the First Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Tajikistan, Holiqzoda Hokim Hikmatullo, with the participation of representatives from relevant ministries and agencies.

 

It was reported that as of January 1, 2025, 107 domestic and foreign companies are registered in the free economic zones, including 41 entities in the "Sughd" free economic zone, 36 entities in the "Dangara" free economic zone, 9 entities in the "Kulob" free economic zone, 17 entities in the "Panj" free economic zone, and 4 entities in the "Ishkoshim" free economic zone. In 2024 alone, 24 entities were registered in the country's free economic zones, including 7 entities in the "Sughd" FEZ, 9 entities in the "Dangara" FEZ, 6 entities in the "Panj" FEZ, and 2 entities in the "Kulyab" FEZ. Out of the total number of registered enterprises, 6 were put into operation, resulting in the creation of 157 jobs.

The attraction of domestic and foreign investments in the FEZs amounted to 114 million somoni in 2024, which is an increase of 11 percent compared to the same period in 2023.

Since the inception of free economic zones, 1,625 jobs have been created, and the total volume of investments has reached 2,499 million somoni.

Currently, entities in the free economic zones produce metal structures, aluminum and plastic profiles for doors and windows, plastic pipes and containers, electrical wiring, construction paints, metal-plastic products, electric scooters, wooden doors and windows, decorative construction products, furniture, and cleaning agents. The volume of industrial production in 2024 reached 523 million somoni (76 million more compared to 2023). The total volume of industrial production since the establishment of free economic zones has amounted to 2,988 million somoni.

From the beginning of their operations to date, entities in the free economic zones have contributed 386 million somoni to the state budget in the form of customs duties and taxes, which is almost 3.5 times greater than the funding from the state budget for the development of infrastructure and maintenance of free economic zones.

 

It was also noted that during his working visit to the Sughd region, the Founder of Peace and National Unity - Leader of the Nation, President of the Republic of Tajikistan, esteemed Emomali Rahmon officially opened the enterprises LLC "Tajpanel" and the second production phase of LLC KM TT "Afrang Plastic" in the Sughd Free Economic Zone on March 30, 2025.

 

According to the investment project, the activities of LLC "Tajpanel" are aimed at producing all types of construction materials (panels). The total investment amounts to more than 5.5 million somoni, and the production capacity is 30,000 square meters of panels per year.

 

LLC KM TT "Afrang Plastic," under its investment project, is engaged in the production of plastic profiles, with a total investment of 13 million somoni. The production capacity of the enterprise is 4,000 tons of plastic profiles per year, and upon full commissioning, it will provide permanent jobs for over 100 local residents.

 

The meeting included a report from the responsible secretary of the Supervisory Board on free economic zones regarding the implementation of decisions from previous Supervisory Board meetings, as well as reports from the heads of the administrations of the free economic zones "Sughd," "Dangara," "Kulob," "Panj," and "Ishkoshim" on the activities of free economic zones in 2024.

 

The Minister of Economic Development and Trade, Deputy Chairman of the Council Zavqizoda Zavqi Amin participated in the discussions and made proposals regarding further development paths for free economic zones.

 

During the meeting, it was noted that in order to fulfill the instructions of the President of the Republic of Tajikistan, Leader of the Nation esteemed Emomali Rahmon, who addressed the Majlisi Oli of the Republic of Tajikistan on December 28, 2024, regarding the digitalization of sectors of the national economy to ensure transparency in economic and financial relations, the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade of the Republic of Tajikistan has developed a draft resolution for the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan "On the Procedure for Activities of Representatives of State Bodies in Free Economic Zones According to the 'Single Window' Principle" in cooperation and coordination with relevant ministries and agencies, which will be presented to the Government for consideration in the shortest possible time.

 

Additionally, in order to expand access to information about products produced in free economic zones and to promote international trade in cooperation with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), an online catalog of products produced in FEZs (www.catalog.fez.tj) has been developed and launched, which was presented at the meeting.

 

At the conclusion of the meeting, specific instructions were given by the Chairman of the Supervisory Board to relevant ministries and agencies, as well as to the heads of free economic zone administrations, to address existing shortcomings, strengthen activities in free economic zones, create industrial enterprises, attract more investments, and increase production and export of their products.