Iran Water and Power Resources Development Company (a subsidiary of the Energy Ministry) signed an agreement with the Tajikistan Ministry of Transport to complete the second phase of Tajikistan's Istiqlol (Anzob) Tunnel project.
Tajik Transport Minister Azim Ibrahim, and IWPCO deputy for planning affairs signed the deal in Dushanbe on Sunday, Mehr News Agency reported.
“Iranian firms have been active in executing infrastructure projects in Tajikistan including Sangtuda 2 Hydroelectric Power Plant and Istiqlol tunnel,” Ibrahim said.
The second phase of the project includes setting up lighting, ventilation and firefighting systems plus surveillance cameras.
“Work on the second phase of Istiqlol Tunnel project will begin soon and we hope it will make a valuable contribution to celebrations marking the 30th anniversary of Tajikistan’s independence,” he said. Tajikistan and Iran have cordial political and economic relations with commonalities in language, culture, and history.
The first phase of the project was undertaken in 2019 by Iran’s Sabir Company (a private enterprise) that specializes in dam and power plant construction.
The plan which had been shelved for years due to technical and financial constraints was carried out by Sabir at a cost of $50 million, half of which was funded by the Dushanbe government.
Istiqlol is a 5-kilometer long tunnel which connects the Tajik capital to Khujand, its second largest city. The tunnel is strategic in that it can help end Uzbekistan's possible intention to halt traffic between Tajikistan's two largest cities (the two neighbors have long had border disputes) and allow travelers to bypass Uzbek territory saving at least four hours.
International Role
In related news, IRNA quoted Qasem Taqizadeh Khamesi, head of the National Water and Wastewater Engineering Company of Iran (Abfa) as saying that Iran’s water and power industry is active in 40 international markets as exporter of goods and services under engineering, procurement and construction contracts.
Iranian companies are active in Iraq, Afghanistan and Armenia as the biggest overseas markets.
"They have 50 projects in Azerbaijan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Sri Lanka, Uganda, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Oman and India."
The Iran-Tajikistan Chamber of Commerce was established in 2018 in Tehran to boost bilateral trade.
Iran is one of Tajikistan’s biggest trade partners after Switzerland, Turkey, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, IRNA reported, citing data released by the Statistical Agency under the president of the Republic of Tajikistan. Nearly 150 Iranian companies are involved in various sectors of Tajikistan’s economy.
