Bilateral relations of Tajikistan with Belgium

                                                                                                        Bilateral relations of Tajikistan with Belgium

Diplomatic relations between the Republic of Tajikistan and the Kingdom of Belgium were established on April 29, 1992.

In 2001 the Embassy of the Republic of Tajikistan in the Kingdom of Belgium, functioning also as the Permanent Mission at the European Communities was opened in Brussels. Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Tajikistan to the Kingdom of Belgium is Erkinkhon Rahmatullozoda.

The Embassy of the Kingdom of Belgium in the Republic of Tajikistan has its residence in Nur-Sultan, Republic of Kazakhstan.

Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Kingdom of Belgium to the Republic of Tajikistan is Mr. Alexis de Crombrugghe.

Further development of relations with the Kingdom of Belgium as one of the countries-founders of the European Union has great importance for Tajikistan.

The President of the Republic of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon has several official and working visites to Brussels:

On March 25-26, 2003 and on October 9-10, 2004 during his visit to Belgium President E. Rahmon had meetings with the King Albert II and business communities of Belgium.

During the visit of the President of Tajikistan E. Rahmon to Belgium on February 9-11, 2009 his meetings with the Prime Minister of Belgium H. Van Rompuy and the Chairman of the Belgian Senate A. de Decker have taken place.

President E. Rahmon also participated at the opening ceremony of the new building of the Embassy of the Republic of Tajikistan in Brussels and has met the compatriots living in Belgium. E. Rahmon also participated and addressed the Business Forum of Tajikistani and Belgian entrepreneurs.

On May 31, 2009 the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Belgium H. Van Rompuy has arrived in Dushanbe with working visit. During the visit H. Van Rompuy had a meeting with the President of the Republic of Tajikistan during which issues of bilateral cooperation between Tajikistan and Belgium, program and plans for development of regional cooperation, water and power resources management have been discussed.

Also on May 3-4, 2012 the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Belgium Didier Reynders and Minister of Defense of Belgium Peter de Crème visited Tajikistan.

On April 9-12, 2013 another official visit of the President Republic of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon to the European Communities and the Kingdom of Belgium took place. During the visit Emomali Rahmon held meetings with a number of the officials of European Communities and Deputy Prime-minister, Foreign Minister of the Kingdom of Belgium Didier Reynders and with the President of the House of Representatives of Belgium Andre Flahaut.

Two documents were signed during the visit: 1.Memorandum of Understanding on the Development of Cooperation between Tajikistan and the European Investment Bank 2.Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation in area of public and private healthcare between the Republic of Tajikistan and the Healthcare Foundation of Belgium.

On October 16, 2017 the first political consultations between the Republic of Tajikistan and Kingdom of Belgium was held in Brussels. The delegation of the Republic of Tajikistan was led by the deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Tajikistan Muzaffar Huseinzoda. The delegation of Kingdom of Belgium was represented by Director-General of the Federal Agency for Foreign Affairs Anik van Kalster. The two sides have discussed the political events that took place in two countries, bilateral relations and cooperation, role of the European Union in Belgium and Tajikistan, issues of security and cooperation in fighting terrorism and extremism as well as other important questions.

Inter-parliamentary meetings take place between the states. The first meeting of the Inter-parliamentary cooperation Commission between Tajikistan and the European Parliament was held on March 14 – 16, 2011 in Brussels. On the sidelines of the meeting, the parties have signed a Memorandum of Understanding between the parliaments of Tajikistan and the Kingdom of Belgium.

On November 28 – December 1, 2016, the delegation of the Majlisi namoyandagon Majlisi Oli of the Republic of Tajikistan under the leadership of Sharif Rahimzoda – Chairman of the Committee for Economy and Finance of the Majlisi namoyandagon Majlisi Oli of the Republic of Tajikistan visited Brussels. During the visit the delegation of the Majlisi namoyandagon Majlisi Oli of the Republic of Tajikistan under the leadership of Sharif Rahimzoda met with members of the Belgian inter-parliamentary friendship group led by Senator Alain Destex.

Cooperation of the Republic of Tajikistan with the Kingdom of Belgium in economic and trade spheres is being actively developed.

In 2011 Business Club Belgium-Tajikistan was established in Brussels which is a conducive and an appropriate arena for continuous and useful contacts with the representatives of business circles in Europe and the introduction of economic and investment opportunities of the country among the Belgian business community.

Tajikistan-Belgium Investment Forum with participation of major investors is regularly being held in Brussels.    

The volume of foreign trade turnover of Tajikistan with Belgium in 2018 has reached 9314,9 US dollars (export – 2278,1 thousand USD; import – 7036,8 thousand USD).

Eight documents are signed between Tajikistan and Belgium which form legal-treaty basis of bilateral relations.