Tajikistan President Emomali S. Rahmonov Monday urged Indian companies to study investment opportunities in his country, which has rich mineral resources and huge hydropower potential.

At an interactive meeting organized by Indian industry lobbies FICCI, Assocham and the CII, Rahmonov said Tajikistan had taken a lead in utilizing its rich water resources for hydropower generation to meet its own requirements as well as those of the region.

"Pakistan, China, Iran, Kazakhstan and Russia need electricity and are negotiating with us on realization of the projects in this field. We have already started construction of Sangtuda-1 hydropower station with Russia and Sangtuda-II hydropower station with Iran," Rahmonov said.

"Now we are discussing with potential investors the issues of implementation of large-scale projects for the completion of the Rogun and Dashtijum hydropower projects," the Tajikistan president said, inviting Indian companies to participate in these projects.

Besides meeting the regional demand of power, the projects are expected to help irrigate 2 million hectares of land in central Asia and Afghanistan through reservoir storages.

Rahmonov also highlighted the potential for Indian participation in mining of coal, gold and silver, as well as the opportunities in production and processing of cotton and food processing.

Source: Xinhua