Japan could establish antimony trioxide production in Tajikistan

DUSHANBE. July 30 (Interfax) - Japanese investors are considering establishing a facility to produce antimony trioxide in one of Tajikistan's free economic zones, the Industry and New Technologies Ministry of Tajikistan said.

Tajikistan's Industry Minister Sherali Kabir discussed the possibility of implementing the investment project with a delegation from the Japanese of Economy, Trade and Industry Ministry representatives of the Japan Organization for General Metals and Energy (JOGMEC), and four Japanese companies.

The parties during the meeting also discussed bilateral cooperation in the mining and metallurgy sector, geological exploration, and Japan's experience in the mining and metallurgy sectors.

There are currently five free economic zones operating in Tajikistan, namely in Sughd, Panj, Dangara, Ishkashim and Kulyab, whose residents enjoy tax, customs, and administrative incentives aimed at stimulating investment activity, as well as developing export-oriented production, logistics, industry and raw material processing.

Tajikistan has the second-largest antimony reserves in the world at around 10% of global reserves. Antimony trioxide is widely used in industry as the main component of flame-retardants, and is used to produce polyethylene terephthalate (PET), glass, and ceramics.