Tajikistan holds the Presidency of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit 2021. What is the agenda of the Tajikistan presidency? What are the horizons for cooperation between Tajikistan and the Kingdom within the framework of this organization?
As one of the founder states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), Tajikistan has a significant role in the structural expansion and development of this organization. The slogan of the Tajikistan SCO Presidency is “20 years of the SCO: cooperation for stability and prosperity.”
The agenda of Tajikistan’s Presidency consists of pursuance of constructive policy, maintaining peace, security, and stability, strengthening cooperation in the economy and humanitarian sphere, and international positioning for setting and maintaining of SCO cooperation with other regional and international organizations such as the United Nations, Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) which meet common interests.
On July 13-14, 2021, Dushanbe hosted the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Foreign Ministers Council Meeting. The meeting of the Council of Ministers of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization is being held in preparation for the summit of the heads of the organization’s member states, which will be held in September in Dushanbe. The heads of the foreign ministries exchanged views on the SCO’s activities over 20 years and discussed steps to further develop cooperation within the organization. During the meeting, the Foreign Ministers discussed the opportunities of expanding partnership in dialogue within the organization. As a result, the Ministerial Council decided to grant the status of a dialogue partner within the SCO to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Arab Republic of Egypt.
On September 16-17, 2021, within the framework of the Dushanbe summit of the SCO heads of state, it is planned to approve the decision on granting Saudi Arabia the status of a dialogue partner. A high-level delegation from the Kingdom is expected to attend the summit. We are confident that the SCO will become a new platform for multilateral cooperation between Tajikistan and Saudi Arabia and contribute to strengthening joint actions within regional and international agendas.
2022 will mark the three decades of bilateral ties between Saudi Arabia and Tajikistan. What achievements would you like to highlight, and what challenges remain? How do you envision future strategies of partnership?
Since September 9, 1991, when the Republic of Tajikistan gained independence, based on the principles of the “open door” policy, it has established and strengthened equal and mutually beneficial relations with most countries. The establishment and development of bilateral relations with the Arab world, especially with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, was one of the main priorities of Tajikistan’s foreign policy. The Kingdom was one of the first Arab countries to recognize the sovereignty of the Republic of Tajikistan immediately after declaring its independence.
On February 22, 1992, during the official visit of the former Saudi Foreign Minister HRH Prince Saud Al-Faisal to Dushanbe, the two countries established diplomatic relations. In February 2022, we will celebrate the 30th anniversary of the establishment of official diplomatic ties between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Republic of Tajikistan.
During these 30 years, the two countries laid a solid foundation for an effective political, economic and social cooperation based on goodwill, mutual understanding and respect that meet the aspirations of two brotherly nations. Currently, Tajikistan and the Kingdom maintain the highest level of political collaboration thanks to the constructive dialogue between the leaders of the two countries, His Excellency President Mr. Emomali Rahmon and King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.
The President of Tajikistan has made five visits to Saudi Arabia, which positively influenced the revitalization of bilateral relations. In January 2016, the last visit of Mr. President to Riyadh took place. We believe there is a need to reinvigorate relations between the two countries through dialogue and high-level discussions.
Unfortunately, I have to admit that the economic, trade and investment relations between Tajikistan and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia are not as intense as political ties. Nevertheless, strengthening economic and trade partnership is on the agenda for the period ahead. There are challenges such as logistics. However, the two sides are optimistic that the opportunities and capabilities of both parties will help to achieve tangible results.
To this end, in 2021, we look forward to organize the next session of the Joint Intergovernmental Commission on Economic, Trade, Scientific and Technical Cooperation. Tajikistan seeks to attract Saudi investments through the Public Investment Fund (PIF) and ACWA Power in the energy sector.
What is the long-term goal of political consultations between the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of Tajikistan and Saudi Arabia (May, 2021)? How can this initiative contribute to bilateral and multilateral diplomacy?
It is a common practice worldwide that ministries of foreign affairs are responsible for implementing foreign policy and international cooperation of countries they represent. The close coordination between the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of Tajikistan and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is an important factor in activating mutually beneficial partnership in all areas of common interest. The most important mechanism for such coordination is the political consultations we hold regularly based on the Memorandum of Understanding signed in 2014 during the official visit of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Tajikistan to Riyadh.
On May 26, 2021, the first session of political consultations co-chaired by the Principal Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Tajikistan and Undersecretary for Political and Economic Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Saudi Arabia was held virtually. During this meeting, the parties discussed issues of bilateral cooperation in various fields, as well as ways to expand partnership. The representatives of the two countries emphasized that two-sided solid political relations should be used to strengthen trade, investment, and tourism connections.
The political consultations also focused on cooperation within regional and international organizations, including the United Nations, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and the Asian Cooperation Dialogue. Furthermore, it has been noted that Saudi Arabia and Tajikistan have similar or convergent positions in relation to many major regional and international issues. The parties agreed to hold the political consultations twice a year. It is expected that at the end of 2021, the second round of political consultations will be held. We hope to hold it in person either in Riyadh or Dushanbe.
2030 National Development Strategy (NDS) of Tajikistan and Saudi Vision 2030. What opportunities and new horizons of the two-sided collaboration can open these initiatives?
In 2016, Tajikistan launched its National Development Strategy to 2030 (NDS- 2030), laying out its master plan for the country’s future economic development. The main priorities of the country’s development after 2015 reflected in the NDS-2030 are focused on education, health care, employment, countering corruption, food security and nutrition, good governance, social welfare, energy security, environmental protection, and management of demographic processes.
Consequently, I can say that the NDS-2030 of Tajikistan and the Saudi Vision 2030 are very similar in their content and priorities. In this context, I would like to mention that the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia would be one of the important mechanisms for cooperation between the two sides in implementing their national strategies. Given the central role of the PIF in implementing the priorities of Vision 2030 in the KSA, Tajikistan looks forward to seeing the PIF in its investment strategy.
Furthermore, Tajikistan’s NDS-2030 considers its international commitments on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), approved during the 70th session of the UN General Assembly in September 2015. It is worth mentioning that Tajikistan, in the context of its interest in environmental sustainability and the development of a green economy, recently welcomed two initiatives of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud. Namely, Saudi Green Initiative and the Green Middle East Initiative.
Reflecting on the online exhibition “Made in Tajikistan-2020,” how do you foresee investment opportunities for Saudi entrepreneurs in Tajikistan?
From November to December 2020, on the initiative of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Tajikistan, the online exhibition “Made in Tajikistan-2020” was held. The goal was to support Tajik entrepreneurs and exporters, local producers, promote companies and products in the domestic and international markets, and strengthen the export potential of Tajikistan.
Many Saudi private sector representatives participated in this event. We are confident that such initiatives will significantly contribute to enhancing two-sided economic and investment cooperation. Saudi Arabia and Tajikistan intend to organize more exhibitions and forums in the future to attract investors from the Kingdom to Tajikistan. The discussions of future exhibitions and forums are ongoing with the Council of Saudi Chambers, including Riyadh Chamber, Jeddah Chamber, and Qassim Chamber.
In this context, we cordially invite Saudi investors to participate in the International Universal Exhibition-Fair – “TAJIKISTAN-2021.” The exhibition will be held from 28 to 31 October 2021 in Dushanbe.
