CCI RT and USAID HELD THE FIRST MEETING OF THE COUNCIL FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF ELECTRONIC COMMERCE IN TAJIKISTAN

On March 4, 2021, the first meeting of the Council for the Development of   Electronic Commerce at the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Republic of Tajikistan was held in Serena Hotel.

The event was organized by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Republic of Tajikistan with the support of USAID Project for the Development of Entrepreneurship and the Business Environment (USAID’s Future Growth Initiative, FGI).

The event was attended by the Deputy Head of the Department of Strategic Planning and Reforms of the Executive Office of the President of Republic of Tajikistan Muqaddaszoda Firdavs Muqaddas, the Head of the Secretariat of the Advisory Council under the President of the Republic of Tajikistan on improving the investment climate Abdugafforzoda Numon, USAID Acting Mission Director in Tajikistan Keith Simmons, World Bank Country Manager for Tajikistan Mr. Jan-Peter Olters, National Program Manager at ITC Trade Promotion Program in Tajikistan Saidmumin Kamolov, Director of the National Center for Legislation under the President of the Republic of Tajikistan Saidzoda Izzatullo, Chairman of the Association of e-commerce participants of Tajikistan Vafoev Muratjon Saidovich, representatives of interested ministries and departments of the Republic of Tajikistan such as: Justice, Finance, Transport, Industry and New Technologies, Agriculture, National Bank of Tajikistan, State Committee on Investments and State Property Management under the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan, Export Agency, Tax Committee, State Unitary Enterprise “Tojiksugurta”, Antimonopoly Service, development partners, IT and telecommunication companies, private sector, as well as experts in the field of Electronic Commerce.

Opening the session, the Chairman of the CCI of Tajikistan Jumakhonzoda Jamshed Jurakhon noted: “The online sales market is growing steadily and according to experts, will grow even faster. We hope that the Council for the Development of Electronic Commerce will become an important public platform for dialogue, where great attention will be paid to the discussion of issues related to the promotion and development of electronic commerce in the Republic of Tajikistan. “

In his welcoming speech, the Deputy Head of the Department of Strategic Planning and Reforms of the Executive Office of the President of the Republic of Tajikistan Muqaddaszoda Firdavs Muqaddas emphasized that the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan pays special attention to this issue. At present, a number of legal acts have been adopted in this sector. In addition, intra-State procedures are underway under the Draft Law of the Republic of Tajikistan “On Electronic Commerce” and a draft National Strategy for the Development of Electronic Commerce is being developed.

He also indicated the timeliness and relevance of the role of the created Council for the Development of Electronic Commerce at the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Republic of Tajikistan, which brought together all parties and became a platform for discussing issues of the development of electronic commerce.

Keith Simmons, USAID Acting Mission Director in Tajikistan welcoming the members of the council, and noted that “The development of electronic commerce in Tajikistan will open up new opportunities not only for large companies, but also for small and medium-sized enterprises, allowing them to increase their sales, export and create new jobs. This will allow the population to access a wider range of products and services in regional and international markets at a lower price. It is also important for the government because it will promote a more transparent economy and encourage enterprises to open up and move away from the shadow economy, which will ultimately lead to increased government revenues.

Jan-Peter Olters, World Bank Country Manager for Tajikistan welcoming the members of the council mentioned that the development of a successful e-commerce sector for goods and services “made in Tajikistan” is work in progress. To be able to benefit from the potential of creating markets abroad requires the continued focus on critical pre-conditions. The legal, institutional, and infrastructure foundation of a faster, less expensive, and more reliable internet throughout the entire country. Ongoing efforts to prepare a comprehensive policy approach underpinning a digital transformation are being supported by the World Bank—from the possibility to connect the local digital infrastructure with the hubs emanating at the Indian Ocean to telecom sector reforms that would encourage increased private-sector co-participation and benefits to households generated on that basis. International experience is unambiguous. Every country that is successful economically, that achieves dynamic rates of growth over prolonged periods of time, and that paves a sustainable and inclusive path towards increased prosperity and professional perspectives is an open economy. An open economy trades, integrates itself into global value chains, and benefits from the global marketplace as source of knowledge and profits. E-commerce is a powerful instrument with which to accelerate this development. The E-Commerce Council is a critical body of experts that would help to translate this potential into profits and prosperity.

Numon Abdugafforzoda also emphasized in his speech the relevance and importance of the development of e-commerce for business, especially small and medium-sized ones.

It was noted that during the last meeting of the Advisory Council under the President of the Republic of Tajikistan, the issue of e-commerce was raised and the Secretariat of the Council, together with the CCI RT, the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade and the State Committee on Investments and State Property Management, was instructed to conduct a comprehensive analysis of the e-commerce sphere and prepare recommendations for its further development

Saidmumin Kamolov National Program Manager at ITC Trade Promotion Program in Tajikistan during his speech mentioned that given the growing role and contribution of e-commerce to economic growth and the global economy in general, ITC has identified a specific sector or component specifically for e-commerce through the EU-funded Ready4Trade Central Asia (2020-2023) project. -development of trade in the countries of Central Asia, including the Republic of Tajikistan. This project component consists of two main parts:

• Assisting stakeholders in developing a strategy or program for the development of e-commerce in the country; and
• Promote the development of e-commerce for the private sector (analysis of the readiness of the private sector for e-commerce, assessment of existing needs and problems in this area, the state of the necessary infrastructure, raising awareness and knowledge of the private sector). e-commerce sector, capacity building) in terms of leveraging e-commerce opportunities, etc.).

As for the part of promoting e-commerce for the private sector, it should be noted that it is carried out in cooperation with the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Republic of Tajikistan and other stakeholders. In this regard, a survey has already been conducted among the private sector, and after the selection of beneficiaries, enterprises will be provided with practical assistance in accordance with the program.

Vafoev Muratjon Saidovich Chairman of the Association of e-commerce participants of Tajikistan noted that the Association of E-Commerce Participants of Tajikistan with great enthusiasm received in October last year the information on the establishment of the Council for the Development of E-Commerce at the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Republic of Tajikistan. By the creation of the Council, everyone was given a clear signal that society as a whole has matured and is ready to accept solutions based on the use of modern technological solutions in the field of trade and services, when electronic money is used in payments between sellers and buyers of goods (works, services). And the coinciding interests of the state, business community and consumers are “fertile ground” for the widespread dissemination of technologies for building and conducting electronic commerce in the country.

During the meeting, other participants of the event also made speeches and exchanged views.

A presentation on the created Council was presented by the Manzura Akramovna and the objectives of the Council and the Council’s work plan for 2021 were discussed by the participants of the event.

CCI RT Press Center