On July 1-3, 2014 the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Tajikistan Sirodjidin Aslov paid a visit to United Kingdom where held bilateral talks with the Minister of State for International Development Alan Duncan and Senior Minister of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Baroness Sayeeda Warsi, met with the President of European Bank for Reconstruction and Development Suma Chakrabarti, delivered the statement in the House of Lords of the Parliament and took part in the meeting with UK business community.

FCO – the Minister during the meeting with Baroness Warsi exchanged views on the bilateral Tajik-British relations as well as on the opportunities of their expansion in the areas of mutual interest. The sides also discussed the issues related to the situation in Afghanistan and Central Asian region. Parties signed the Agreement on the avoidance of double taxation and prevention of fiscal evasion with respect to taxes on income and on capital.

DFID – the Minister discussed with the Minister of State for International Development Alan Duncan cooperation of the two countries in the field of international development and exchanged views on the development of projects implemented by the United Kingdom Department for International Development (DFID) in Tajikistan. He welcomed the support of DFID in realization of regional projects and expressed hope for deepening of mutually beneficial cooperation.

Parliament – the Minister made a statement to the members of the House of Lords of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, who are also the members of All-Parliamentary Group of Friends of Tajikistan and United Kingdom. Sirodjidin Aslov informed parliamentarians on main priorities of the development of Tajikistan and delivered the position of our country on contemporary regional and world processes. Substantive exchange of views took place during question and answer session. The Minister also held a talk with the Speaker of the House of Lords Baroness D’Souza and discussed development of inter-parliamentary relations between two countries. Taking the opportunity, Sirodjidin Aslov invited the Speaker of the House of Lords of the Parliament of Great Britain to visit Tajikistan.

EBRD – the Minister met with the President of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development Suma Chakrabarti in the Headquarters of EBRD. During the meeting the parties exchanged views on the realization of national and regional project implemented by EBRD, as well as the perspectives of the development of cooperation. Sirodjidin Aslov thanked the President Chakrabarti for the implemented projects in Tajikistan and expressed hope that EBRD projects will be further aimed at supporting the private, banking and microfinance sectors in our country.

Business event – the Minister met with the representatives of business community of the United Kingdom which was represented by UK leading business institutions and companies focusing on the countries of Central Asia such as CATBIG, British Expertise and UKTI. The Deputy Chairman of the State Committee on Investments and State Property Management of the Republic of Tajikistan Nigina Abdulloeva made a presentation on the investment opportunities of our country and invited the UK business circles to deepen the cooperation with their Tajik counterparts and relevant institutions of our country. During the meeting the questions on issues related to transport and communication, energy and agriculture in Tajikistan, as well as the perspectives of the implementation of regional projects were answered. Constructive exchange of views on current condition and future possibilities of business cooperation between Tajikistan and the United Kingdom took place.