Iran Looks to Strengthen Tajik Ties

A major Iranian trade show - exhibiting products from dozens of companies - opened in Dushanbe last week, highlighting Tehran’s ever-growing economic and cultural cooperation with Tajikistan, a trend that appears to be part of a policy by the Islamic Republic to acquire strong allies in the region.

The fourth Khurasan exhibition of industrial and manufacturing goods got underway on August 25 with 40 Iranian firms displaying a range of goods, including fridges, motor oil, glass, and computer hardware – the main goal of the show being to increase ties between enterprises in Tajikistan and Iran.

“We’re expecting contracts to be signed on the creation of joint enterprises in Tajikistan with Iranian capital,” said the director of the exhibition, Ali Reza Hushang Najat. Indeed, one Iranian businessman, Ali Gariboni, told IWPR that his firm, Charm-e-Mugan, was planning to invest over one million US dollars in leather goods production.

In recent years, there has been a significant increase in trade between Iran and Tajikistan. It’s now worth around 37 million dollars a year, growing annually at a rate of between ten to 15 per cent.

Iran is increasingly becoming one of the main importers of Tajik aluminium and cotton - two of the country’s largest exports - whose principal markets up until a few years ago were Western European countries.

At the same time, Tajik businessmen are importing goods from Turkey and the United Arab Emirates through Iran, and Tehran is investing heavily in transport infrastructure in Tajikistan, most notably contributing over 27 million dollars towards the building of a tunnel through Mount Anzob - which will improve road links to northern Tajikistan and to other Central Asian countries - and channelling six times as much money into a hydroelectric power station in the Sangtuda region.

As well as economic cooperation, Iran has been actively expanding sporting and cultural ties with Tajikistan. The Iranian National Olympic Committee funded the construction of a recently-opened sports centre in Dushanbe, named after the Persian classical writer Firdausi.

Earlier this year, the capital hosted an Iranian film festival and an exhibition of miniatures and calligraphy by Iranian artists. And an educational exchange programme between the two countries has enabled hundreds of Tajik students to study at leading universities in Iran.

A straw poll of Dushanbe residents found that most welcomed Iran’s increasing overtures towards Tajikistan.

“Undoubtedly, it is excellent that Iran is starting to invest funds in our economy, and supporting cultural programmes, “ said Muhammad. “Iranians are our brothers, we have common traditions and a common language, and any cooperation with them will bring us benefits.”

Rahmonali, a pensioner, said, “Tajikistan is never going to develop on its own anyway. Better that it should be our brother Iran [that helps us] than some old America which wants to bring the whole world to its knees.”

Rizo, a businessman, said he was particularly happy about the growing business partnership opportunities between the two countries.

“I’ve been doing business with an Iranian partner for more than five years now,” he said. “ Small- to medium-sized business activity is organised in a more civilised way there than it is here. My Iranian partners and I are soon going to set up a joint venture manufacturing furniture here in Dushanbe.”

Hamida, who was helped by the Iranian embassy in Dushanbe to get a scholarship at the diplomatic academy in Tehran, said she appreciated what she believed to be the greater professionalism of college and university lecturers in Iran, “The education in Tehran is on a completely different level. The lecturers don’t take bribes for examination marks there.”

Observers here believe that Tehran’s increasing interest in Tajikistan is aimed at securing reliable allies amongst its Central Asian neighbours.

“By increasing its economic and cultural influence in Tajikistan, Iran is pursuing political goals, the primary aim of which is to create loyal partners in the region which support Iran on the international stage,” said political analyst Turun Kabirov.

Tehran effectively admits that this lies behind its overtures towards Tajikistan.

“Iran sees Tajikistan as a strategic partner in Central Asia, and this is determined by the fact that the policies of Iran on the international stage are currently supported by the leadership of Tajikistan,” said the Iranian ambassador to Dushanbe, Mohammad Sarmadi.

Earlier this year, when President George Bush threatened to launch a military strike against Iran, both the ruling and opposition parties in Tajikistan condemned his remarks and declared they were prepared to back Tehran on all issues. “With the threat of a military campaign by the US against this Islamic country, [Washington] has found an unconditional ally in Tajikistan,” said Kabirov.

More recently, Dushanbe’s backing for Tehran proved crucial in Iran acquiring observer status – along with India and Pakistan – at the July summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, a security grouping which includes four Central Asian states plus Russia and China. The Iranians publicly thanked the Tajik authorities for its assistance in this process.