Wednesday, August 08, 2012 -
Aluminum and cotton are the lion’s share of Tajik exports, the country’s ministry of economic development said on Wednesday.
The two products account for approximately 80 percent of the Central Asian country’s total exports, the ministry source told the Avesta.tj news agency.
Cotton and aluminum external sales drew in $411.4 million, while total exports accounted for $669.6 million, he said.
Tajikistan would economically benefit if the industries could process their raw materials instead of selling them abroad in their original form, the source added.
“The problem is that these products are still sold as a raw material, i.e. without treatment. Initial processing of these products could bring more revenue than the export of raw materials,” the source said.
“Establishment of a full cycle of processing of these goods would create many jobs and replenish the state treasury.”
Establishing production centers in other industries – namely, wool and hide processing – has created new companies and new jobs while increasing the amount of products which can then be shipped abroad, the source added.