Speech by E.Rahmon at a meeting with activists of Badakhshon

Speech by President of the Republic of Tajikistan
E.Rahmon at the meeting
with leaders and activists of Badakhshon,
August 17, 2011.

Dear compatriots!
Dear Friends!

Our next visit to Badakhshon Mountainous Autonomous Region on the occasion of twentieth anniversary of Tajikistan state independence is the logical continuation of the traditional meetings with the residents of cities and regions to get acquainted with the state of socio-economic development of different regions of the country.


During the trip we close familiar with the state of the population, the results of the creative process and it is gratifying that at a meeting of the great jubilee of independence in the field has achieved notable successes and progress.

Using a good time, I sincerely congratulate all of you - the distinguished present and in your face all the proud residents of Badakhshon, on the occasion of our sacred national jubilee, and wish you all health, vigor, success in work and life.
In the period of independence for the conversion of Badakhshon in Tajikistan, the golden gates and sustainable development of all sectors of life the Government consistently exercising his creative purposes, which contributed to the gradual improvement of the living condition of residents.

It is the political independence, peace, stability and national unity allowed to in other cities and regions were made great and valuable work, including construction of roads and tunnels in mountainous areas impassable, and large bridges for regional and international importance.

The Government has since the early days of independence, while ensuring peace, stability and peaceful life of the country has made a primary issue in their work and taking all the necessary measures in the name of socio-economic development of all sectors of society.

With this purpose in 1993 was accepted by the Council of Ministers of the country's "On Priority Measures normalization of economic and political situation in Badakhshon," and then was accepted by the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan "On the socio-economic development of the Badakhshon Mountainous Autonomous Region", on the basis of these rulings adopted the "Program of Economic Reform, 1995-2000" and these documents played a special role in the process of radical reform of vital industries and their development.

At the same time, as a result of financial support governments in the region, 90% of the cost of which is funded by the national budget, gradually ensured the development of socio-economic sectors, salaries and pensions, improvement of living standards of people.


During the years of independence, increased significantly the socio-economic sector areas during this period from all sources of public funding for the development of the area has been allocated more than 1 billion 620 million Somoni, which was aimed at social protection, construction, roads, and support for the budget area.

In particular, to cover the expenditure side of it was directed from the state budget 332 million Somoni, as well as from the contingency fund of the President, ministries, departments and other public sources - about 218 million Somoni.
In addition, during this period of national budget from the State Social Insurance Agency to pay pensions to pensioners Badakhshon has been allocated financial assistance worth over 173 million Somoni.

For the development of Badakhshon mountainous autonomous region in 2010, from all sources of funding was allocated over 378 million Somoni, which is 16 times more than in 2002.

Funding for the state budget in 2010 for every inhabitant of the region in 1800 was equal to TJS, more than two times the same figures in Khatlon and Sughd region.

On the scope of the main building of the independence years from all sources of funding was allocated 550 million Somoni. Only in the last 10 years more than $ 220 million Somoni involving fixed assets, built more than 80 thousand square meters of floor space.
At the time of independence in their activities has been established branches and offices of almost all operating banks in the country and a number of small credit institutions, they serve people in all types of existing banking operations.

At the initiative of the Government of the country's annual lending is growing for various industries, including industrial development, construction, agriculture and support small and medium enterprises in mountainous regions, in particular in Badakhshon.

In the last five years, total volume of small loans granted increased by more than 10 times and totaled 61 million TJS.

Along with this, today in the region are carried out 17 joint investment projects worth over 617 million Somoni, which are aimed at the construction and reconstruction of roads, power plant construction and development sectors as energy, agriculture, land development and the improvement of ameliorative state reform and development education and health, rural development.
In addition, according to new agreements on public investment, to improve the city's water supply will be sent Khorugh about 15 million TJS.

It is the implementation of creative goals through the effective implementation of a number of national and regional programs allowed to over the years of independence in the operation were provided much of the existing production facilities, reconstruction of production in accordance with the requirements of time, the creation of new companies with new technologies.

In the meantime, there are 13 enterprises and 20 small shops in the region, with the support of the ministries, departments and as a result of capital raising domestic entrepreneurs in the cities and districts of the region created two workshops for working stone, 5 sewing shops and two small processing plants of medicinal plants.
In addition, over the years became operational confectionery and stone treatment companies Khorugh, brick factory and a sewing shop Vanj district, dried fruit processing plant and dairy Rushon, carpenter's shop Shughnon district.

In Shugnon district began restoring the poultry factory in the village of the Bun and the construction of the poultry shop in the village of Tang, work in progress.

Now, in the region there are 97 small businesses engaged in the activities of private entrepreneurs in 1750.

Industrial output in the last ten years has more than doubled, reaching 16 million somoni in 2001 to 35 million TJS in 2010.
Along with this, "Socio-economic development of the Badakhshon mountainous autonomous region for the period till 2015" adopted by the Government of the country in 2006, covers a variety of projects for the construction of mining enterprises for processing of minerals, precious and decorative stones, building materials, on Production of light industry by attracting domestic and foreign investment.

Therefore, the executive body of state authority, the Ministry of Energy and Industry, State Committee on Investments and State Property Management, the Union "Tajikmatlubot" and the Committee on Women and Family Affairs to facilitate the establishment of the maximum processing local raw materials to enterprises in the region, to attract more domestic and foreign investment, joint ventures to provide local women and girls work.

In particular, the involvement of local entrepreneurs should establish a broad construction of small scale enterprises for processing of precious and decorative stones, building materials.
Nowadays, the area for prospecting and mining - marble, gold, copper, nickel and silver deposits at 7 Vanj, Darvoz, Roshtqala and Murghob districts issued licenses to five domestic and foreign companies that continue their work.

At the moment, explored in more than 42 different fields, including gold, silver, ruby, lapis lazuli, etc., in addition, identified the phenomenon of more than 50 kinds of minerals. Along with this, some specific phenomena are ready for exploration and a number of discovered fields for submission to the competition for prey.

We intend to help establish small and medium-sized industrial enterprises in the years to establish in the field of mining and processing of minerals and mining in this way to increase the number of new jobs, as well as to improve the quality of life.
All of you, dear participants, are well aware that the development of all spheres of society and above all, industry needs electricity.

Thus, the question fully ensures all socio-economic spheres of the country's electricity, which is one of the strategic goals of our state is on the comprehensive study of state and government.

Along with the continuation of construction and reconstruction of large energy facilities now across the country, including in Badakhshon, in the implementation phase is long-term program of building a series of small hydropower for the period 2009-2020 period, according to which in the region with the involvement of domestic and foreign investment planned to build 16 small hydroelectric power plants.

At the present, in accordance with the program in the region, including in Vanj, Rushon, Darvaz, Shugnon, Roshtqala and Ishkoshim districts, construction of eight hydroelectric power from 35 to 500 kW.
It should be recalled that if the period of independence in the country built 250 small hydroelectric power stations, some of this number are 40 hydropower plants in operation and in the Badakhshon region, whose thickness ranges from 5 to 576 kW.

At the same time in order to meet the needs of the region's population with electricity by Government Concession contract with energy companies to "make peace-Energy," created an opportunity for GES to "reconcile-1" and "Khorugh" rebuild their regular activities.

In the case of these projects in the region will create favorable conditions for development of industrial sectors, as well as opportunities to sell excess electricity to neighboring countries.
It should be noted that the power supply in all towns and districts of the region is much better compared to other cities and regions of the country.

Along with this over the years through the construction of roads and bridges national and international importance to the Government of the country was mainly to ensure its strategic goal in the country from the aspect of communication isolation.
The region's independence as a whole is built, restored and commissioned more than 150 objects, including road-pass Murghob Kulma road Shkev-Zigar, Shohon-Zigar, four international bridge across the Panj River in the towns and districts, as well as construction, road repair and reconstruction of the Kulob-Khorugh-Kulma-Karokurum, which are our notable achievements of the independence period.

Thanks to these measures Badakhshon region was derived from the communication isolation. If the earlier parts of Dushanbe in Badakhshon can be reached only by air travel, and in case of favorable weather conditions, but now the population is free all year round to visit this region, using the road.
During this period, were also built and repaired roads and bridges with local significance. In particular, the state budget in the past five years at 60 million TJS were built, reconstructed and put into service road Murghob-Tohtamish, roads and tunnels Kuitezak, khargush, kurut, some parts of the highway from Dushanbe Khorugh, two bridges in Vanj district.

In addition, this year as part of road construction Kulob-Qalaikhumb provide repair and reconstruction of roads Shuroobad-Shogun 40 km long and work in this direction will be launched shortly.

With the commissioning of the road Kulob-Khorugh-Kulma establishment of trade with China and the establishment of customs posts and border markets in Badakhshon region of Afghanistan has been improved business position, significantly increased the volume of trade compared with previous years, as well as increasing investor interest rises to trade.

In addition, the tourism sector in Badakhshon is one of the lucrative and promising sectors.
Unique natural beauty, diverse landscape, medicinal springs, ancient castles and monuments, as well as other unique priorities can contribute to the development of tourism in the region.

Therefore, the promotion of tourism in the region has become one of the main socio-economic developments.

Dear Friends!

One of the main sectors of the economy of our country, including Badakhshon region is agriculture and its development is the guarantee of food security.
As you know, given the rise in global fuel prices and its impact on the cost of other goods, in particular for food products to ensure food security, has repeatedly stressed that it is necessary to pay special attention to the use of every inch of land, particularly irrigated land.

Given the small area of cultivated land by Government intends to annually increase its area by land reclamation, as well as create the necessary conditions for agricultural development.

Agrarian’s sphere especially in the last year, worked in good faith, and brought the volume of agricultural production to 340 million Somoni, which is 7 times more compared with 2000.

It should be noted that in the independence period in comparison with the 1992 cereal production increased by 3.8 times, 11 times as vegetables, potatoes up to 6 times, eggs and honey in more than 100 times.
During this period for land improvement, irrigation and land development due to the centralized funds has been allocated over 5 million Somoni, has been watered about 800 hectares of new land, improved reclamation of 360 hectares of land. Thus, in the time of independence have been restored 268 hectares of new orchards, 115 hectares of old orchards and 780 hectares of forest.

Thus, for 2250 the young and vulnerable families will be allocated plots of land, resulting in improved living conditions of approximately 16 thousand people.

In addition, in 134 villages separated and inaccessible areas of the region in recent years by attracting non-budgetary funds is built and commissioned water supply line stretching about 400 km.

Dear Friends!

At the time of independence, along with other spheres of social life have also made significant progress of social spheres, including in education, health and culture.
Only in the last three years in the region completed repair, rehabilitation, reconstruction and construction of more than 50 community facilities, including dormitories for students at Khorgh's State University, the central stadium of Khorugh, Youth Center in Khorugh, Presidential school for gifted students, the reconstruction of regional theater, offices of the regional hospitals, 16 health centers and dispensaries, construction and reconstruction of 33 schools and additional classrooms for more than 7,400 pupils, as well as the development of fallow lands in the towns and districts.

In addition, the education field has been provided with computers in 2200 that, with respect to each student is a better indicator of the country.

In order to prepare qualified professionals annually by the President's quota of the number of talented graduates, as well as children from poor families in the field of higher educational institutions accept students.
You are all well aware that in the past, people were prevented from Badakhshon Tajik viewing television programs. Now almost all the population of the region has the ability to watch programs of Channel One Central Television, as well as 87% - TV "Safina", 56% - TV "Bahoriston" and 82% - TV "Jahonnamo."

Dear compatriots!

All these achievements of the country, including Badakhshon over 20 years of independence achieved by the country's sovereignty, national unity, peace and stability in the country.


In this process, you must always remember that the improvement and development of the advanced society is in our hands.

Moreover, each of us should be grateful to the state independence and always thinking about accomplishment of the motherland, peace people, as well as strengthening the economic power of our independent country.

With immense good will once again congratulate all of you, dear audience, in your face all the proud people of Badakhshon on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of state independence of the country, I wish you a hospitable and proud people of Badakhshon, welfare, health, peace and success.

Stay healthy and happy, dear compatriots! (Translated by D.Azizov)