Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Wednesday batted for better collaboration with Tajikistan in the fields of Academics, Tourism, Trade, and Commerce for the welfare of the residents of both. Interacting with a high-level delegation from Tajikistan, which called on him at his official residence on Thursday, the Chief Minister said that with the world swiftly emerging as a global village there was a need for acquainting the students about the emerging trends in the education sector. Furthermore, he said that in such a scenario the academic collaboration between the universities, which were temples of education, of the different countries could do wonders in spreading the light of knowledge in every nook and corner of the world besides helping in overall development of the students. Emphasizing the need for frequent student and faculty exchange program between Punjab and Tajikistan, Bhagwant Mann said that it would be very beneficial for the students of the state and Tajikistan.
However, Tajikistan has been facing its own downfall in the field of the education sector. As per reports, Tajikistan has the lowest ranking on the Education subindex (117th). In the Health subindex, the country has been ranked 84th, the Economic Participation and Opportunity subindex – 107th, and the Political Empowerment subindex – 109th. For the unversed, educational attainment refers to the highest level of education that a person has successfully completed. Successful completion of a level of education refers to the achievement of the learning objectives of that level, typically validated through the assessment of acquired knowledge, skills, and competencies. Another report talks about the Indian students who pursued medical education in countries like Tajikistan, China, and more. The report pointed out that over 70 percent of Indian students who pursue foreign medical education are unable to pass the FMGE test. In Asian countries such as Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and China the passing percentage falls to as low as 12-18. For the unversed, Foreign Medical Graduate Examination (FMGE) is a screening test for medical graduates to be eligible to practice medicine in the country.
Coming to trade and commerce, reports suggest that the top exports of Tajikistan are Gold ($780M), Raw Aluminium ($211M), Raw Cotton ($137M), Lead Ore ($78M), and Zinc Ore ($60.6M), exporting mostly to Switzerland ($779M), Turkey ($212M), Kazakhstan ($153M), Uzbekistan ($86.2M), and Afghanistan ($69.4M). Furthermore, in 2020, Tajikistan was the world's biggest exporter of Antimony ($59.6M). Notably, A lead-antimony alloy is used in batteries. Other uses of antimony alloys include type metal (in printing presses), bullets and cable sheathing. Antimony compounds are used to make flame-retardant materials, paints, enamels, glass, and pottery.
Coming to Punjab's trade and commerce, the state is one of the leading exporters of basmati and non-basmati rice, leather goods, chemicals, sesame seeds, and Indian spices. In terms of India, the top exports are Refined Petroleum ($25.3B), Packaged Medicaments ($17.8B), Diamonds ($16B), Rice ($8.21B), and Jewellery ($7.57B), exporting mostly to United States ($49.7B), China ($18.5B), United Arab Emirates ($18.1B), Hong Kong ($9.18B), and Germany ($8.8B).
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More on Punjab CM and Tajikistan meeting
Punjab CM Mann further stated that it was the need of the hour to update the knowledge of students and upskill the teachers in which such initiatives could play a pivotal role. Bhagwant Mann said that Punjab and Tajikistan can initiate measures for starting student and faculty exchange program, in which the state government will provide fulsome support and cooperation to them. He also batted for mutual collaboration in the tourism sector between both Punjab and Tajikistan adding he invited the visiting delegation to be part of the Invest Punjab Summit being held in the state in February 2023.
Advocating the opening of more trade between Punjab and Tajikistan, the Chief Minister said that it can also be very helpful for promotion of economic activity amongst both of them. Citing an example, he said that Basmati of Punjab has high demand in Tajikistan and its export has enhanced it can transform the destiny of farmers of the state. Bhagwant Mann said that the state government will leave no stone unturned for fostering better ties with Tajikistan in sectors of academics, tourism, trade and commerce.
Meanwhile, the delegation comprising Ubaydullo Aseorzoda from International University of Tourism and Entrepreneurship, Tajikistan, Vice Rector Foreign Affairs Jabbrov Fathullo Amrievich, Economist Dr Umarov Khojamahmad, Dean, Technical University, Tajikistan Rustam Cholmatov and others assured the Chief Minister of better bilateral ties between Punjab and Tajikistan.