New Delhi: Hon’ble President of India, Shri Ram Nath Kovind paid State Visit to Tajikistan from 7 to 9 October, 2018. During his visit, he meets President of Tajikistan H.E. Mr. Emomali Rahmon. The Speaker of the Parliament H.E. Mr. Shukurjon Zuhurov, Speaker (Chairman) of the Lower House (Majlisi Namoyandagon) of Parliament and the Prime Minister of Tajikistan H.E. Mr. Qohir Rasulzoda will call on Rashtrapatiji. Dr. Shubhash R. Bhamre, Raksha Rajya Mantri and Sh. Shamsher Singh Manhas, Hon’ble Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha) will also be part of Rashtrapatiji’s official delegation. The current visit is a standalone visit to Tajikistan.
President Kovid visited the Tajik National University where he delivered an address on ‘Countering Radicalization: Challenges in Modern Societies’. He addresses the members of the Indian Diaspora in Tajikistan. President Kovind pays his respects to Mahatma Gandhi and Rabindranath Tagore by visiting their memorials in Dushanbe and will offer floral tributes.
During the visit of President, all areas of bilateral, regional and multilateral cooperation are expected to be discussed. Given the close relationship between the two countries, the visit is lead to further strengthening of Indo-Tajik bilateral relations.
This is the very first visit of President of India, Shri Ram Nath Kovind to Central Asia.
Background
Central Asia is a region with which India has had historical links and closes cultural affinity. India and Tajikistan have a relation of close cooperation, friendship and trust.
India-Tajikistan bilateral relations have steadily grown and have diversified in many fields. Since 2012 both countries have elevated their relationship to the level of strategic partnership.
There have been several exchanges of visits at the highest level between the two countries. Prime Minister Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee had visited Tajikistan in 2003. Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi visited Tajikistan in 2015 as part of his visit to all the five Central Asian countries. The last visit to Tajikistan by President of India was by Smt. Pratibha Devi Singh Patil in 2009. President of Tajikistan, Emomali Rahmon has visited India five times, his last visit being in December 2016. The leadership of the two countries also frequent meetings on the sidelines of various multilateral fora. These regular visits at the highest level have cemented the bilateral ties as well as demonstrate the importance the two countries attach to this relationship.
Tajikistan is situated in a strategically important region. India and Tajikistan have been facing common challenges of terrorism, radicalisation and extremism. The leadership of Tajikistan has been resolute against these challenges to the modern society and has taken effective steps to contain them. Tajikistan has been engaged in the task of development and growth of its economy and welfare of its people.
In the field of Defence cooperation, the two countries have a Joint Working Group to decide on various programmes of cooperation. India is engaged in training and capacity building of Tajik Defence forces. India has also contributed in terms of helping in renovation and reconstruction of the Gissar Military Aerodrome in Ayni.
India and Tajikistan are together engaged in bilateral cooperation in multifarious fields to promote their trade and investment. Our bilateral trade has reached almost US $74 million last year. The major hurdle in developing this trade comes from lack of direct connectivity which increases transportation costs.
India has provided development assistance and executed several medium and small projects to help in various fields like agriculture, food processing, power generation, IT education, training, capacity building and health. A number of Indian companies are also engaged in electric transmission projects in Tajikistan.
In the multilateral fora, India and Tajikistan cooperate closely. Tajikistan supported India’s accession to the Shanghai Cooperation Organization membership. India supported Tajikistan’s accession to WTO in 2013.