Opportunities and prospects for Russian-Tajik trade and investment cooperation

In today’s world, small and economically weak States find it difficult to develop without the assistance of international partners. Analysis shows that trade relations between Russia and Tajikistan are developing in a mixed manner. Their structure is characterized by some one-sidedness and raw material orientation. Exports from Russia predominate, and Russian products occupy a stable first place in the overall trade turnover of Tajikistan. While Tajik export goods are not so much in demand in Russia, their share in the total Russian trade turnover is insignificant. Russian investment activity, which was active in the zero years of the 21st century, is gradually losing its position. The study shows that this has been facilitated more by the internal-Tajik factor, in particular the sharp deterioration of the investment climate for Russian investors. But, in the author’s opinion, the potential for successful trade and investment cooperation between Russia and Tajikistan is quite wide. Ecologically clean and of good quality fresh fruit and vegetables and dried fruit from Tajikistan could, under certain conditions, diversify the Russian market for agricultural products. In turn, the Tajik economy needs new technologies in telecommunications, the agricultural sector, the digitization of all sectors of the economy, and assistance in the construction of hydroelectric power stations, new power lines, roads and railways.