Dushanbe hosted the first International Food Industry Forum «Tajikistan-2026». In parallel, the international exhibition of food industry products and packaging UPAK EXPO 2026 took place.
According to the organizers, the forum brought together more than 500 participants from 15 countries. The forum program included discussions on the quality and safety of food products, the development of agricultural raw material processing, attracting investments, implementing new technologies, and promoting Tajik producers to international markets. An investment session and B2B meetings between entrepreneurs and producers also took place.
Iran and Tajikistan to expand economic cooperation
During the forum, the governor of Iran’s Golestan Province Ali-Asghar Tahmasebi met with Tajikistan’s Minister of Industry and New Technologies Sherali Kabir. The parties discussed the expansion of trade and industrial ties between Golestan and Tajikistan.
Tahmasebi presented the province’s potential in the food industry, packaging, and value-added creation sectors and noted the availability of opportunities for expanding economic cooperation.
Sherali Kabir stated Tajikistan’s readiness to expand cooperation with Iran in the field of joint industrial investments, creating production lines for food products, and increasing imports.
Russia expects to increase trade with Tajikistan
Russia’s Trade Representative in Tajikistan Alexander Rybas, speaking at the forum, stated that Russia and Tajikistan intend to increase the volume of mutual trade by 2.5 times by 2030.
According to him, one of the promising directions is to increase supplies of Tajik vegetables, fruits, and berries to the Russian market.
Rybas reported that in 2026 a joint venture was created aimed at systematically expanding imports of Tajik vegetables, fruits, and berries to Russia.
“We see unrealized potential in the field of exporting local products to the Russian market. Therefore, 2026 has been designated as the year of concrete results,” he said.
According to Tajik statistics, trade turnover between Tajikistan and Russia in the first half of 2026 amounted to $1.316 billion, increasing by 22.9% compared to the same period last year.
Belarusian companies reached supply agreements
As part of the business program, representatives of Belarusian business reached agreements with Tajik enterprises on the supply of dairy and other food products, medical equipment, and business automation solutions.
In particular, supplies of dry milk and butter to Tajik enterprises were discussed, as well as trial supplies of food products to retail chains in Tajikistan.
Uzbekistan and Tajikistan to accelerate agricultural projects
During the forum, a meeting took place between Uzbekistan’s Deputy Minister of Agriculture Jamshidjon Abduzukhurov and Tajikistan’s Deputy Minister of Agriculture Bakhromjon Rajab Ahmadzoda.
The parties discussed the current status of joint projects in cotton growing, grain production, and other areas of agriculture. Following the meeting, they agreed to accelerate the implementation of existing projects, coordinate their execution, and strengthen direct working contacts between the responsible organizations of the two countries.
Abduzukhurov also presented information on the development of agricultural product processing, agrologistics, and modern packaging infrastructure in Uzbekistan, as well as attracting investments to the sector. He familiarized himself with the UPAK EXPO-2026 exhibition, where Uzbek companies Citric.Uz, Eurosnab, Plast Tech Solution (Food Pack), Asia Pack, and Star Cup participated .
In total, more than 50 companies from Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Iran, Russia, and Turkey participated in the exhibition. The exhibition featured products, equipment, and modern technological solutions. The business program included B2B negotiations, presentations of new technologies, and the conclusion of cooperation agreements.
