By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo
The following article was contributed by Ambassador of the Republic of Tajikistan to the Republic of Korea, Salohiddin Kirom, to Diplomacy Journal for publication. –Ed.
On April 27, 2025, Tajikistan and the Republic of Korea will mark a significant milestone: 33 years of diplomatic relations. This anniversary is a testament to the enduring friendship and robust cooperation between our two nations.
Since gaining independence, Tajikistan, under the wise leadership of President Emomali Rahmon, has achieved impressive strides in development. Our country boasts a strong political and legal framework that fosters stability and economic prosperity. Tajikistan's commitment to these fundamental principles has also earned international respect, solidifying its position as a valued member of the global community.
The bedrock for this positive relationship between Tajikistan and the Republic of Korea was established in 1992, upon the formalization of diplomatic ties. Over the past three decades, both countries have cultivated a strong partnership built on mutual trust and profound understanding.
The Republic of Korea, with its advanced development experience and cutting-edge technologies, is considered one of Tajikistan’s reliable and valued partners. The Republic of Tajikistan attaches great importance to expanding bilateral multifaceted cooperation with this friendly country.
Our peoples share deep-rooted friendly ties dating back to the time of the Silla Kingdom. The archaeological finds at the tomb of King Wonseong in Gyeongju, as well as historical accounts of the prominent Buddhist monk Hyecho from the Silla period referencing the Tajik people and Pamir mountains, provide concrete evidence of the enduring friendly connections between our nations.
Over the past three years, our two sides have successfully held three business forums, the most recent of which took place on June 19-20, 2023, in Dushanbe.
Tajikistan is open to considering and facilitating economic and investment projects within its free economic zones, and we are keen on establishing joint industrial enterprises in mutually beneficial areas, leveraging Korean know-how and advanced technologies.
Currently, over 24 Korean enterprises are actively operating in Tajikistan. We are eager to see even more active participation from the Korean private sector in the diverse sectors of the Tajik economy.
Tajikistan and Korea actively engage within the framework of the United Nations, as well as other international and regional organizations, and we share common and/or similar perspectives on the most pressing issues on the global agenda.
Tajikistan stands ready to strengthen mutually beneficial cooperation with the Republic of Korea in key areas such as hydropower, textile, light, chemical, and food industries, mining and processing of mineral ores and rare metals, mechanical engineering, pharmaceuticals, agriculture, transport, and tourism.
We are particularly interested in the establishment of interregional (local administrations) cooperation in areas of mutual interest to promote practical collaboration with the Republic of Korea at the sub-national level.
We highly appreciate the Republic of Korea's significant efforts in promoting the Central Asia-Republic of Korea Cooperation Forum, which we recognize as an effective mechanism and a favorable foundation for the development of regional cooperation and the implementation of impactful joint projects, leading to result-oriented collaboration.
As an active and committed member of the Central Asia-Republic of Korea Cooperation Forum, Tajikistan is fully prepared to further contribute to achieving our shared goals aimed at enhancing cooperation between our countries and fostering the well-being and continued progress of our nations.
Tajikistan's Global Initiatives on Water-Related Issues
It is important to note that the concept of water diplomacy has been pioneered and is increasingly utilized by the international community as a crucial tool in advancing the global water agenda. It serves as a vital negotiating instrument to find common ground on complex issues related to water management.
Tajikistan has initiated five significant global practical initiatives that directly address the fundamental needs of humankind, and on which virtually no country remains indifferent.
In response to a visionary proposal put forth by the President of the Republic of Tajikistan at the 54th session of the UN General Assembly (October 1, 1999), the 55th session, held on September 20, 2000, declared 2003 the "International Year of Fresh Water." This landmark initiative culminated in the International Summit on Fresh Water, held in Dushanbe from August 29 to September 1, 2003.
Building on this success, on December 23, 2003, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution based on the Dushanbe Declaration and proclaimed 2005-2015 as the International Decade of Action "Water for Life." Furthermore, in 2013, the international community observed the "International Year of Water Cooperation," a direct result of Tajikistan's proposal in General Assembly resolution 67/204.
Continuing its leadership in this critical area, on December 21, 2016, the General Assembly of the United Nations adopted a resolution declaring 2018-2028 as the International Decade of Action "Water for Sustainable Development" in response to a proposal by the President of the Republic of Tajikistan. This crucial initiative was first presented to the international community by the President of Tajikistan on April 12, 2015, during the World Water Summit in Daegu, Republic of Korea, underscoring the strong connection between our two nations on this vital issue.
To effectively implement this important initiative, the International High-Level Conference on the International Decade for Action "Water for Sustainable Development" 2018-2028 was successfully held in Dushanbe in June 2018, with the participation of high-ranking representatives from UN member states and other prominent international and regional organizations.
In another historic development, on December 14, 2022, the 77th session of the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution declaring 2025 as the International Year of Glacier Preservation and March 21 as World Glacier Day, at the initiative of the President of Tajikistan. This vital initiative garnered the strong support of 153 UN member states. The International Glaciers Preservation Trust Fund has been established and is coordinated by the UN, and a high-level international conference on glacier preservation is planned to be held in Dushanbe on May 29-31, 2025.
These constructive and timely initiatives spearheaded by the President of the Republic of Tajikistan will play a pivotal role in promoting sustainable development and integrated water resources management, facilitating the implementation of crucial sectoral projects and programs, and strengthening international cooperation towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals related to water.
Tajikistan's Potentials and Opportunities
Thanks to the significant achievements attained during the independence period, Tajikistan is experiencing rapid and sustainable development.
The primary development goals and strategic priorities of our nation are clearly defined in the National Development Strategy of the country for the period up to 2030.
In accordance with this comprehensive Strategy, the Government is actively implementing large-scale economic reforms specifically aimed at ensuring long-term sustainable development.
In this ongoing process, Tajikistan has established successful and enduring cooperation with prominent international financial institutions and other key development partners for decades.
With their valuable support, hundreds of impactful investment projects and programs have been successfully implemented across various sectors in Tajikistan.
Furthermore, we currently have a substantial portfolio of other ongoing projects, totaling approximately $4.5 billion, demonstrating the scale of our development endeavors.
Today, leading international financial organizations recognize Tajikistan as a state with a dynamic and rapidly developing economy.
The average annual growth rate of the country's economy over the past ten years has consistently been more than seven percent, highlighting our strong economic performance.
The private sector is thriving in Tajikistan, currently contributing approximately 90 percent to the production of goods and services, underscoring its vital role in our economic landscape.
Tajikistan has successfully attracted significant foreign investment in recent years, and our international trade is experiencing rapid growth, reflecting increasing global confidence in our economy.
The legislative framework of our country provides numerous privileges and extensive legal guarantees for the robust protection of business and investment activities.
Our country's proud membership in the World Trade Organization and our adherence to a number of key international conventions on the protection of investors' rights further demonstrate the alignment of our national legislation with global best practices and standards.
Tajikistan is endowed with abundant natural resources, particularly significant water and diverse mineral resources.
An impressive 93 percent of Tajikistan's territory is comprised of majestic mountains, home to approximately 13,000 glaciers, which serve as a crucial primary source of clean drinking water for the region.
Remarkably, more than 60 percent of Central Asia's vital water resources originate in Tajikistan, highlighting our critical role in regional water security.
Tajikistan ranks as the eighth country globally in terms of total hydropower resources and holds the second position worldwide in terms of specific hydropower resources per capita, underscoring our immense potential in this sector.
Currently, only about 5 percent of this vast hydropower capacity is being utilized, presenting significant opportunities for future development.
An impressive ninety-eight percent of Tajikistan's electricity is generated from renewable "green energy" sources, positioning us as a leader in sustainable energy production.
According to this crucial indicator, Tajikistan proudly ranks sixth in the world, demonstrating our commitment to environmental sustainability.
Tajikistan has ambitious plans to double our green energy production capacity in the near future, recognizing its pivotal role as the key driver of our green economy transition.
The development of a robust "green economy" is a fundamental goal of the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan, reflecting our long-term vision for sustainable development.
Tajikistan offers a unique opportunity to utilize abundant "green energy" with minimal environmental impact to attract energy-intensive industries seeking sustainable operations.
The effective utilization of this significant potential requires substantial investments and the adoption of advanced, environmentally friendly technologies.
Tajikistan's substantial hydropower capacity, combined with the introduction of new technologies, enables the production of aluminum and other metals, as well as value-added finished products derived from them, with remarkably minimal carbon emissions.
The "Tajik Aluminum Company" (TALCO), which already utilizes environmentally friendly electricity in its production processes, has proudly entered the ranks of the top five global producers of "green aluminum," showcasing our leadership in sustainable manufacturing.
The production of "green aluminum," copper, and lithium in Tajikistan presents a significant advantage for investments in the burgeoning electric vehicle manufacturing sector.
It is also important to emphasize that in the near future, many products manufactured using green energy sources are expected to be exempt from carbon taxes, further enhancing the attractiveness of investing in sustainable production in Tajikistan.
Considering this favorable trend and the availability of a skilled and growing labor force, the production of diverse industrial products in Tajikistan, specifically targeted for export to the dynamic Korean market, holds significant potential for mutual economic benefit.
The industrial sector, particularly mining, metallurgy, light and food industries, as well as broader industrial cooperation, is considered a mutually beneficial direction for strengthening our bilateral ties.
The mining industry in Tajikistan also offers excellent prospects due to the strong global demand for essential mineral resources.
Approximately 40 different types of metals and materials have been mined in Tajikistan, and an impressive 800 deposits of polymetallic minerals, rare and precious metals have been identified and discovered, with several already prepared for industrial exploitation.
The production of key minerals such as copper, silver, gold, lead, antimony, zinc, lithium, tungsten, mercury, rare metals, precious and semi-precious stones, rock salt, and a range of other valuable minerals holds significant promise for future growth and investment.
In the field of light and food industry in Tajikistan, the primary focus is on the strategic development of clusters for the deep processing of locally sourced raw materials, such as agricultural products and high-quality cotton fiber, into high-value finished goods for both domestic and international markets.
Cooperation in the chemical industry, pharmaceuticals, and the production of construction materials utilizing local raw materials also presents mutually beneficial opportunities for collaboration between our two nations.
In the context of ensuring food security, we are particularly interested in expanding our cooperation with Korea in the field of agriculture, a sector that has been experiencing rapid and significant development in Tajikistan in recent years.
In this promising direction, we can effectively leverage Tajikistan's inherent opportunities to produce and export environmentally friendly agricultural products to markets worldwide, including the discerning Korean market, contributing to both food security and sustainable trade.
The Government of Tajikistan is actively undertaking necessary measures to further develop the tourism industry and fully realize its considerable potential, particularly in the areas of mountain climbing, ecotourism, and health and wellness tourism.
To facilitate international tourism, Tajikistan offers a unilateral visa-free regime for citizens of a number of countries, including the Republic of Korea, allowing them to stay in our beautiful country for up to 30 days without the requirement of a visa, encouraging greater people-to-people exchanges.
We are also keenly interested in pursuing mutually beneficial cooperation with the Korean side in the development of the financial and banking sectors, with a particular focus on the emerging areas of green securities and the transformative potential of digitalization.
It is crucial to emphasize the key advantages that Tajikistan offers for mutually beneficial cooperation, including:
• The significant availability of vast natural resources, including strategically important mineral resources and diverse raw materials.
• The immense potential for the cost-effective and sustainable production of green energy.
• The presence of sufficient and readily available labor resources, coupled with positive demographic indicators indicating future growth.
These compelling factors collectively create a strong and attractive foundation for mutually beneficial and long-lasting cooperation between Tajikistan and the Republic of Korea.
