Tajiks Hit by Rising Import Prices

Tajikistan’s heavy reliance on foodstuffs and fuel from abroad resulted in high overall inflation last year as it paid more for imports.

Officials say year-on-year inflation came to nine per cent in 2010, compared with five per cent the previous year when the authorities were able to intervene more to keep prices down in the face of global economic problems. Central Bank spokesman Abdughafor Qurbonov said sound economic policies had nevertheless resulted in “relative stability” of consumer prices last year.

Independent economist Hojimuhammad Umarov believes the official figure understates the inflation rate, which he puts at at least 15 per cent. 

This audio programme, in Russian and Tajik, went out on national radio stations in Tajikistan, as part of IWPR project work funded by the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.