DUSHANBE (Avesta News Agency) – The Lower Chamber of the Parliament of Tajikistan on Monday approved amendments in the national budget for 2012 exempting several companies from taxes. The Tajik Railway Company incurs losses due to lack of railway link with the external countries, said the Deputy Finance Minister Ruhullo Hakimov (روح الله حکیموف).

The given link was destroyed as a result of the blast on the railway bridge in Uzbekistan last November. Uzbekistan dismantled then its section of the railway entirely disconnecting Khatlon (ختلان) region (southern Tajikistan) from the railway.

The activities of the Railway Company in the south of Tajikistan are exempt from taxes since June 1, according to the amendments.

The gold mining venture Aprelevka is exempts from taxes and customs duties in case of bringing equipment, proposed the Ministry of Energy and Industry. A new equipment will allow the venture to raise the annual gold production up to 2.2 tons and silver production up to 7.7 tons. Thus, the company will be exempt from paying US $2.62 million in taxes and duties.

The energy holding Barki Tojik (برق تاجیک) is exempt from payment of taxes and customs duties while bringing 30,000 tons of diesel fuel for Dushanbe combined heat and power plant, said Hakimov.

The Asian Express is exempt from paying $1.77 million in taxes in connection with bringing 20 MAN buses. This company has bought a large number of equipment for passenger transportation, including 40 buses. The management of the company asked exemption from taxes and customs duties, however, the government agreement to provide tax exemption for 20 buses only, explained the Deputy Finance Minister.