Enhancing Investment Promotion in Tajikistan

Annex A. Data Collection

Interviews

To better understand the situation in Tajikistan and replace the missions that the OECD usually conducts, the OECD team held a series of interviews (approximately 25) over a period of six months. The interviewees ranged from investors to government authorities, international organisations, embassies, business associations, researchers, and more. Interviewees will not be disclosed. The questions aimed at receiving an impression of the current business and investment climate, including relevant challenges. Carried out over zoom, the interviews provided snapshots of individual perceptions; in aggregate, the interviews support crucial arguments given throughout the paper.

In general, it is important to note that surveys or interviews may not be regarded as unbiased information. Sources of bias may include the relationship of the interviewer and the interviewee, the social standing of the participants, or the wording of the questions (Holstein & Gubrium, 1997).

Virtual working Groups

Within the framework of the OECD Eurasia Competitiveness Programme (ECP), the OECD and the government of Tajikistan established a public-private working group to develop guidelines and recommendations for enhancing investment promotion practises in Tajikistan. The Working Group brought together representatives from government agencies, investors, business associations such as the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and other development partners. The OECD ECP, with contributions from international experts and peer reviewers from OECD member countries, carried out analysis, data collection and consultations with stakeholders in Tajikistan to identify the main issues and the most effective policy responses to improve Tajikistan’s investment promotion practices.

Several virtual working groups meetings took place in preparation for the peer review of Tajikistan:

• 28 January 2021: first meeting of the Working Group to frame issues and share insights with local stakeholders;

• 17 June 2021: second meeting of the Working Group with international experts to discuss preliminary recommendations;

• 5 October 2021: third meeting of the Working Group with international experts to discuss the peer review note and its recommendations.

This report was peer reviewed on date at the eight session of the OECD Eurasia Competitiveness Roundtable, a policy network that brings together high-level representatives and technical experts from Eurasia countries, OECD members and partner organisations. The Roundtable meets annually and serves as a platform for peer review and knowledge sharing on the implementation of competitiveness reforms in the Eurasia region.

The peer review aimed to help Tajikistan define further steps for policy reform implementation. In particular, the roundtable discussion was facilitated by the following experts, who provided an overview of the current situation in Tajikistan and insights into the experiences of OECD and Eurasia countries:

• Ms Diana Ablyakimova, Director, Kazakh Invest

• Mr Tornike Zirakishvili, Deputy Director, Enterprise Georgia

• Mr Philippe Yvergniaux, Expert, Business France

In addition, OECD experts from the Secretariat – who had previously provided their insights and reviews to the peer review note – participated in the discussions.

Progress towards implementing these recommendations could be discussed in two years’ time at the 2023 OECD Eurasia Competitiveness Roundtable.

Questionnaires

The OECD also relied on information from the OECD IPA survey that has been conducted for OECD countries and different regions. These surveys, based on a comprehensive survey jointly designed with the Inter-American Development Bank, provide comparative evidence across agencies, categorise their profiles, and explain existing trends and practices in investment promotion and facilitation. Tajikistan (Tajinvest and SCISPM) had filled the survey in 2019, as part of their review for the Mapping of Investment Promotion Agencies in Eurasia.

To receive updated and additional information, the OECD:

• sent an updated and tailored version of the IPA questionnaire to the SCISPM

• sent a shortened version of the IPA questionnaire to other government stakeholders.