1. September 4, 2015 Railway Networks Connectivity between Tajikistan and Afghanistan as a Prerequisite of the New Silk Road Idibek KALANDAROV Head of International Organizations Department Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Tajikistan

2. Why railway connectivity? In order to give a push to economic and social rehabilitation in Afghanistan the Government of Tajikistan has proposed alongside construction of automobile roads and power transmission lines Construction of A RAILWAY … connecting Afghanistan with Central Asian Region

3. Boarder Check Points Panji Poyon Bridge length 672m, width 12 m Ruzvay (Khorugh) Bridge Length 125m Width 4.5m Tem Bridge Length 136m, Width 3,5m Ishkashim Bridge Length 36m Vanj Bridge Length 150m, Width 3,5m CONSTRUCTION OF BRIDGES CONSTRUCTION OF BRIDGES Shohon Bridge Shuroobod Length 180m,

4. Historical Silk Road

5. The proposed railways connecting Tajik-Afghan railway systems

7. China-Kyrgyzstan-Tajikistan-Afghanistan-Iran Railway

8. Entrance to the Afghan Railway Ring

9. Free Economic Zones in Tajikistan The Government of Tajikistan has created 4 Free Economic Zones in different parts of the country: FEZ “Panj” FEZ “Danghara” FEZ “Ishkoshim” FEZ “Sughd” The advantage of the free economic zone consists in the fact that business activities regardless of forms of property under the Tax Code of Tajikistan are exempted from all taxes except the social tax. Goods located in the free economic zone territory are exempted from customs duties and taxes.

10. “Danghara” Free Economic Zone

11. Existing railway adjacent to “Danghara” FEZ

12. Joint Enterprises

13. Conclusions - Contribution to the creation of the New Silk Road - Social and economic development of Afghanistan and neighboring countries - People-to-people relations - Integration of economies in the region - Increase of transit of goods and services - Cultural exchange between the peoples in the region

14. Thank You!