Your Excellency President Rahmon,

Excellencies,

Members of the Indian and Tajik Business Delegations,

I am delighted to be here along with my friend and gracious host, President Rahmon of Tajikistan, to jointly address the India-Tajikistan Business Forum. We are united in our wish to build a strong economic and trade partnership between India and Tajikistan. I especially thank the Tajik Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Confederation of Indian Industries and our other trade organizations who have worked hard to realize this event.

It is a matter of satisfaction that our trade grew nearly 40% last year. However, we cannot overlook the fact that the total volume of direct trade is small at just around US $ 30 million. There is greater potential and we need to increase our trade. I am pleased that a number of small and medium Indian companies have opened operations in Dushanbe and a few Indian investments have also been made in Tajikistan. It is a good beginning which needs to be built upon. We have a legal framework in place in the form of Bilateral Investment Promotion Agreement signed in December 1995 and the Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement signed in November 2008. Our two countries enjoy excellent political, cultural and defence relations. Our trade and economic relations should also reflect this reality. I would, therefore, call on the businessmen to explore opportunities and you can be confident that you have the support of both Governments in this regard.

Our steady economic growth, combined with an extremely diversified agriculture and industrial base makes us an ideal partner for Tajikistan. We have quality goods, innovative ideas and appropriate technology to trade and share with our friends in Tajikistan. India's large pool of trained and skilled manpower offers attractive possibilities for forging beneficial partnerships in diverse areas.

Indian businesses are increasingly investing around the globe. It is natural that they should also take a look at our neighbourhood. It is not without reason that Tajikistan sat on the cross roads of the fabled Silk Route. Tajikistan offers some natural advantages as it is surrounded by neighbours with large populations and markets. Investors from India and Tajikistan can consider opportunities for bilateral investment in a number of promising areas and these include agriculture, mining, transport and infrastructure, hydropower as well as health and education. Agriculture, horticulture, fruits and vegetables, poultry and dairy are yet other areas where small and medium enterprises can flourish. Tajikistan's bilingual youth presents an opportunity for Indian IT companies which may be looking at new and emerging markets.

Tajikistan possesses a huge untapped hydropower potential. The challenge is to use this supply to cater to the demand for energy in South Asia, including India.

No doubt, establishment of direct air link is an urgent requirement for enabling greater people to people contacts, development of tourism and attracting investment. All of you have taken a circuitous route to reach Dushanbe even though the flying time from Delhi to Dushanbe is the same as Delhi to Kolkota. This lack of connectivity is a gap that needs to be filled quickly.

Our business leaders would be interacting over two days. I urge them to identify mutually beneficial areas for partnership. I am confident that given our combined will and your spirit of enterprise you would be successful in realizing our goals. I wish you success in your deliberations.

Thank you.