By UN Journal Lee Kap-soo

 

“Tajikistan stands ready for strengthening mutually beneficial cooperation with the Republic of Korea in such areas as hydropower, textile, light, chemical and food industries, mining and processing of mineral ore and rare metals, mechanical engineering, pharmaceuticals, agriculture, transport and tourism,” said Ambassador of the Republic of Tajikistan to the Republic of Korea Salohiddin Kirom on March 14.

 

In an exclusive interview with Diplomacy Journal held at the Embassy of Tajikistan in Hannan-dong, Seoul, Amb. Salohiddin Kirom said, “Tajikistan is open to considering economic and investment projects in its free economic zones, creating joint industrial enterprises in mutually interested areas using Korean know-how technologies.”

 

 

Noting that Tajikistan has attracted significant foreign investment in recent years, the ambassador said, “The legislation of the country has provided many privileges and extensive legal guarantees for the protection of business and investment. Our country's membership in the World Trade Organization and a number of international conventions on the protection of investors' rights also prove the compliance of the country's legislation with global best practices.»

 

Stressing that the development of the "green economy" is one of the main goals of the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan, he said, “In Tajikistan, there is an opportunity to use green energy with the least impact on the environment to place attract energy-intensive industries. Effective use of this potential requires large investments and the introduction of new technologies.

“Tajikistan's hydropower capacity, combined with new technologies, allows for the production of aluminum and other metals, as well as finished products from them, with the with minimal carbon emissions."

Amb. Salohiddin Kirom continued to say, “The Government of the Republic of Tajikistan has declared tourism a priority direction of the country's economic policy. For this purpose, Tajikistan offers a unilateral visa-free regime for citizens of a number of countries, including the Republic of Korea who can stay in the country for up to 30 days without a visa."

He added, “Tajikistan, being a hospitable country with a unique climate, weather, natural landscape, sky-high mountains, vast, fresh water sources, healing waters, sweet fruits, and folk traditions, is the best place for travel."

 

 

The following is the full-text of the Diplomacy Journal's interview with Amb. Salohiddin Kirom of Tajikistan. -- Ed.

 

Question: Diplomatic relations between Tajikistan and South Korea were officially formed in 1992. How has the relationship developed over the period?

 

Answer: On April 27, 2025, Tajikistan and South Korea mark a significant milestone: 33 years of diplomatic relations. This anniversary is a testament to the enduring friendship and cooperation between the two nations.

 

Since gaining independence, Tajikistan, under the leadership of President Emomali Rahmon, has made impressive strides in development. The country boasts a strong political and legal framework that promotes stability and economic prosperity. Tajikistan's commitment to these principles has also garnered international respect, solidifying its position as a valued member of the global community.

 

The foundation for this positive relationship between Tajikistan and South Korea was laid in 1992, upon the establishment of diplomatic relations. Over the past three decades, both countries have fostered a strong partnership built on mutual trust and understanding.

 

The Republic of Korea with development experience and next-generation technologies is considered as one of Tajikistan`s reliable partners. The Republic of Tajikistan attaches great importance to expanding bilateral multifaceted cooperation with this friendly country.

 

The historical connection between the Tajik and Korean peoples dates back to the Shilla Kingdom, as evidenced by the findings at the tomb of King Wonson in Gyeongju and the accounts of Hyecho, a Korean Buddhist monk, about the Tajik people and the Pamir Mountains.

 

Tajikistan and Korea actively interact within the UN, as well as international and regional organizations and share a common and/or similar position on the most important issues on the global agenda.

 

 

Q: Please, introduce the National Day of your wonderful country.

 

A: September 9, 1991, when the Republic of Tajikistan officially declared its state independence, became an important moment in the history of the country. This historical event marked the beginning of a new stage of the country's development, which gave it the opportunity to determine its own destiny and strive for national prosperity.

 

The efforts of the Founder of Peace and National Unity - Leader of the Nation, the President of the Republic of Tajikistan, Honorable Emomali Rahmon in ending the civil war, restoring peace and stability, as well as his determination and wisdom allowed the country to overcome many difficulties. This trend is not only the result of his hard work, but also the proof of the wisdom and stability of the nation, which strives for comprehensive development.

 

Thanks to the significant achievements of the independence period, Tajikistan is developing rapidly. The main development goals and priorities are defined in the National Development Strategy of the country for the period up to 2030.

 

According to this Strategy, the Government is currently implementing large-scale economic reforms aimed at ensuring sustainable development.

 

Q: What is the present volume of bilateral trade between Tajikistan and South Korea? In Tajikistan what kinds of industrial sectors are attractive to Korean investors.

 

A: The volume of bilateral trade between our countries is more than US$115 million and efforts are being increasingly made on both sides to boost the volume and range of economic cooperation.

 

Tajikistan is open to considering economic and investment projects in its free economic zones, creating joint industrial enterprises in mutually interested areas using Korean know-how technologies.

 

Currently, over 24 Korean enterprises operate in Tajikistan. We are interested in more active participation of the Korean private sector in the economy of Tajikistan.

 

Over the past three years, the two sides have held three business forums, the last of which took place on June 19-20, 2023 in Dushanbe.

 

 

Tajikistan stands ready for strengthening mutually beneficial cooperation with the Republic of Korea in such areas as hydropower, textile, light, chemical and food industries, mining and processing of mineral ore and rare metals, mechanical engineering, pharmaceuticals, agriculture, transport and tourism.

 

Tajikistan has attracted significant foreign investment in recent years, and international trade is growing rapidly.

 

The legislation of the country has provided many privileges and extensive legal guarantees for the protection of business and investment.

 

Our country's membership in the World Trade Organization and a number of international conventions on the protection of investors' rights also prove the compliance of the country's legislation with global best practices.

 

Tajikistan has abundant natural resources, especially water and mineral resources.
93 percent of the territory of Tajikistan is made up of mountains with 13 thousand glaciers, which are the main source of drinking water.

 

 

More than 60 percent of Central Asia's water sources are formed in Tajikistan. Tajikistan occupies the eighth place in the world in terms of total hydropower resources and the second place in terms of their specific resources per capita.

 

Today, only 5 percent of this capacity is used. Ninety-eight percent of Tajikistan's electricity is produced from renewable "green energy" sources.

 

According to this indicator, Tajikistan ranks sixth in the world. Tajikistan plans to double our green energy production capacity in the near future as the the key driver of the green economy.

 

The development of the "green economy" is one of the main goals of the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan.

 

 

In Tajikistan, there is an opportunity to use "green energy" with the least impact on the environment to place attract energy-intensive industries.

 

Effective use of this potential requires large investments and the introduction of new technologies.

 

Tajikistan's hydropower capacity, combined with new technologies, allows for the production of aluminum and other metals, as well as finished products from them, with the with minimal carbon emissions.

 

"Tajik Aluminum Company" (TALCO), which uses environmentally friendly electricity in its production, has already entered the top five global producers of "green aluminum".

 

The production of "green aluminum", copper and lithium in Tajikistan can be an advantage for investment in the production of electric vehicles.

 

It should also be emphasized that in the near future in many, products made with green energy will be exempt from carbon taxes.

 

Considering this and the available labor resources in the future, the production of industrial products in Tajikistan, aimed at export to the Korean market, will be beneficial.

 

The industrial sector, first of all, mining, metallurgical, light and food industry, as well as cooperation, is considered a mutually beneficial direction of our cooperation.
The mining industry also has good prospects in Tajikistan due to the high demand for essential mineral resources.

 

About 40 types of metals and materials have been mined in Tajikistan, and 800 deposits of polymetallic minerals, rare and precious metals have been identified and discovered, some of which are ready for industrial exploitation.

 

The production of copper, silver, gold, lead, antimony, zinc, lithium, tungsten, mercury, rare metals, precious and semi-precious stones, rock salt and a number of other minerals has good prospects.

 

In the field of light and food industry of Tajikistan, the main attention is focused on the development of clusters for the deep processing of local raw materials, such as agricultural products and cotton fiber, into high-value finished products.

 

Cooperation in the chemical industry, pharmaceuticals and production of construction materials based on local raw materials can also be beneficial to both sides.

 

In the context of ensuring food security, we are interested in expanding cooperation with Korea in the field of agriculture, which has been developing rapidly in Tajikistan in recent years.

 

In this direction, we can effectively use Tajikistan's opportunity to produce and export environmentally friendly products to markets worldwide, including Korea.

 

We are also interested in mutually beneficial cooperation with the Korean side in the development of the financial and banking sectors particularly in the areas of green securities and digitalization.

 

It should be emphasized that the advantages of Tajikistan, including:
- availability of large natural resources, including important mineral resources and raw materials;
- great possibility of green energy production;
- availability of sufficient labor resources and positive demographic indicators,
create a strong foundation for mutually beneficial cooperation.

 

Q: What tourist attractions in Tajikistan do you want to recommend to Korean tourists? Do you have any government programs to attract foreign tourists including Koreans to Tajikistan?

 

A: Tourism is one of the directions of economic development in our country that has been rapidly growing in recent years. Tajikistan possesses a rich historical and cultural heritage and natural resources, and has real potential to attract a large number of foreign tourists to the country. Taking these factors into account, the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan has declared tourism a priority direction of the country's economic policy.

 

For this purpose, Tajikistan offers a unilateral visa-free regime for citizens of a number of countries, including the Republic of Korea who can stay in the country for up to 30 days without a visa.

 

Tajikistan, being a hospitable country with a unique climate, weather, natural landscape, sky-high mountains (the highest peak of Pamir mountains is Ismoili Somoni peak, which is 7495 meters), vast glaciers (the Fedchenko or the Vanch-Yakh Glacier is a largest in Pamir Mountains, extending for 77 km. and covering over 700 km2. It is the longest glacier in the world outside of the polar regions), fresh water sources, healing waters, sweet fruits, and folk traditions, is the best place for travel.

 

To create favorable conditions for the development of tourism in the regions of the country, the construction of modern tourist infrastructure is actively underway. New hotels, ski resorts, and eco-trails not only enhance Tajikistan's attractiveness for tourists but also contribute to the development of rural areas and the creation of new jobs.

 

Special attention is paid to the development of such promising directions as mountaineering, historical and cultural, ecological, agrotourism, and gastronomic tourism.

 

Q: Does the Embassy of Tajikistan have any events planned for 2025 and, if so, please elaborate.

 

A: We are planning to hold a number of events this year, such as the International Navruz Holiday, Independence Day of Tajikistan and other cultural events.

 

As our interview is taking place on the days of celebration of the International Navruz Holiday let me elaborate on this spring festival with a rich history dating back thousands of years. The word Navruz itself means "New Day" and symbolizes the renewal of nature and the beginning of a new year.

 

In the late 1980s, Navruz celebrations were officially recognized by the Government of Tajikistan, with March 21st declared a national holiday.

 

After Tajikistan's independence in 1991, thanks to wise policy of the President of the Republic of Tajikistan H.E. Mr. Emomali Rahmon and his tireless efforts, Navruz gained even greater prominence, with celebrations expanding in magnificence and splendor. The holiday was extended up to one week, allowing people to fully immerse themselves in the traditions.

 

The importance of Navruz extends beyond Tajikistan's borders. In 2010, the United Nations General Assembly declared March 21st the International Day of Nawruz. Navruz was also inscribed on the UNESCO Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage, a testament to its shared significance across multiple countries, including Tajikistan.

 

At its core, Navruz is about celebrating peace, tolerance, and new beginnings. It transcends religious affiliation and social status, uniting people in their reverence for nature and their hopes for a prosperous future. The arrival of Navruz brings not only the beauty of spring but also the promise of a fresh start.

 

We are proud that Navruz, with its six-thousand-year history, continues to be deeply rooted in our hearts and minds. It serves as a powerful reminder of our heritage and provides a sense of cultural connection across generations. Even in the 21st century, amidst rapid technological advancements, Navruz remains a vital source of spiritual and social connection for our people.

 

Availing this opportunity, I would like to extend my heartfelt congratulations on Navruz Holiday to all readers of your esteemed magazine and to all Korean friends.

 

Navruzaton piruz bod! (May your Navruz be blessed!)
Har Ruzaton Navruz bod! (May every day be a Navruz for you!)