Tajik Student Seeks to Bridge Economic Ties between China and Tajikistan

“I hope to establish my own company to further promote trade cooperation between Tajikistan and China, contributing to the economic development of my hometown,” said Temurzoda Amirhamza, a 24-year-old Tajik student at Tianjin University.

Temurzoda comes from Dangara city in Tajikistan’s Khatlon province, around 100 kilometers south of the capital, Dushanbe. Dangara has emerged as a key location for economic cooperation under China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

In 2014, the Zhongtai New Silk Road Tajikistan Agricultural and Textile Industrial Park, funded by Chinese enterprises, began operations in Dangara. The industrial park is among the largest textile facilities in Central Asia, covering the entire textile production chain—from cotton farming and spinning to weaving, dyeing, and clothing manufacturing. It directly employs over 600 people and indirectly supports more than 2,000 local jobs.

“Seeing Chinese enterprises investing and building industrial parks in my hometown, I realized business could significantly boost employment and economic growth,” said Temurzoda.

Motivated by these developments, Temurzoda enrolled in Tajikistan National University to study finance and economics. During university, he recognized the popularity of affordable and high-quality Chinese tech products—such as smartphones and smartwatches—among Tajik youth.

He began importing products from China’s Alibaba platform and selling them through Instagram. Initially earning just 300-400 U.S. dollars per month, his monthly profits soon rose to around 1,000 dollars. Within two years, he amassed over 40,000 Instagram followers, creating a stable customer base.

As his business expanded, Temurzoda formally registered his trading company and launched the brand “Azon.tj,” assembling a team to manage procurement, logistics, warehousing, and IT operations.

“There’s a Chinese saying, ‘Although a sparrow is small, it has all the necessary organs.’ This describes my startup perfectly—small but comprehensive,”Temurzoda said.

Economic cooperation between China and Tajikistan has deepened significantly in recent years. China remains Tajikistan’s largest investment source and an essential trade partner. In 2023, bilateral trade between the two countries reached 3.926 billion U.S. dollars, up 53.5 percent year-on-year, marking a record high. As trade ties grow stronger, more Tajik youth, like Temurzoda, choose China to enhance their language and business skills.

In April 2023, Temurzoda first arrived in China to pursue an MBA in International Trade and Management at Shanxi University of Finance and Economics. Although excelling academically in the fully English-taught program, he realized upon graduation in December 2024 that improving his Chinese was crucial for future business pursuits.

Following his professor’s advice, he enrolled in a six-month intensive Chinese language course at Tianjin University, known for its expertise in international education. Since starting the program in March 2025, Temurzoda has rapidly improved his Chinese proficiency, passing the HSK Level 4 exam in May.

“Tianjin University’s teachers tailored the courses to my needs,” he said. He frequently practices speaking Chinese at local markets near campus, immersing himself in daily life and culture.

Temurzoda also attends online international trade courses, learning practical business skills such as company registration, import-export procedures, customs clearance, and taxation.

After completing his studies, Temurzoda plans to first seek employment at an international company to gain experience and build professional networks before launching his own trade-focused business. “I want to introduce more Chinese products to Tajikistan and help Tajik products reach the Chinese market,” he said.

“China has opened a world of opportunities for me,” he said. “I want to serve as a bridge connecting our two countries, strengthening economic cooperation and contributing to our mutual prosperity.”

By Eva Yin