DUSHANBE, Tajikistan, July 2 (UPI) -- Tajikistan is inviting Russian cooperation on hydropower projects.
Tajik President Emomali Rahmon has asked Russian companies to take part in the construction of the Roghun hydroelectric power station, state-owned Tajik Television First reported.
Rahmon made the invitation at the same time he launched the second unit of the Sangtuda-1 hydroelectric power station. He touted the opening as an important step on the path of achieving Tajikistan's energy independence.
He said he reached out to Russia as part of a goal to improve overall trade and communications with the country.
Rahmon said that bilateral trade has almost quadrupled in the past five years with Russia. Last year it was $850 million and in the first five months of this year it exceeded nearly $500 million. He said if trade continues on pace, it could reach more than $1 billion by the end of the year.
