weighted score 3.0 · ten dimensions
Sourcing Attractiveness Index · ten dimensions
Tajikistan
Labour cost, supply base depth, logistics infrastructure, trade access, and innovation scores for Tajikistan as a sourcing destination.
Labour cost competitiveness
9
Extremely low wages — poorest ex-Soviet state. However, productivity is also very low and skilled labour availability is constrained by mass migration to Russia.
Supply base depth
2
Virtually no manufacturing supply base beyond TALCO aluminium, cotton ginning, and basic food processing. No supplier ecosystem for complex manufactured goods.
Logistics & infrastructure
2
Landlocked, mountainous geography. No direct sea access. Poor road networks. All exports require multi-country overland transit. Among lowest World Bank LPI rankings globally.
Workforce skills
3
Large young population but education system has deteriorated. Technical skills are limited. Skilled workers emigrate. Literacy rates remain high from Soviet era but vocational training is poor.
Scalability
4
Large young population provides theoretical labour pool. However, infrastructure constraints, power supply seasonality, and landlocked geography severely limit practical scalability.
Ease of doing business
2
TI CPI 19/100. Systemic corruption. Weak rule of law. Rahmon dynasty controls key economic sectors. Foreign investors face significant bureaucratic and political obstacles.
Trade access & tariffs
3
WTO member since 2013. EU GSP beneficiary. But not EAEU member. Landlocked geography negates much of the theoretical tariff benefit through high transit costs.
Sustainability baseline
2
Hydropower-dominant energy mix is low-carbon but environmental governance is poor. Mining sector has significant environmental impact with minimal oversight. ESG reporting is non-existent.
Innovation & IP
1
Negligible R&D investment. No patent activity. No technology sector. IP enforcement non-existent. Brain drain is severe.
Quality standards
2
Quality management systems rarely adopted. ISO certification uncommon. Laboratory testing capacity is minimal. Product quality consistency is a major concern.
Labour & Cost Competitiveness
Labour & Cost Competitiveness
- Wage levels
- Tajikistan is the poorest ex-Soviet state. Average monthly wages are among the lowest in Central Asia. Labour costs are extremely competitive but reflect limited workforce skills and poor productivity.
- Labour availability
- An estimated 1-2 million Tajik workers are migrant labourers in Russia, representing a significant share of the working-age population. Domestic labour availability for manufacturing is constrained by this outflow.
- Remittance dependency
- Remittances constitute approximately 60% of GDP — among the highest ratios globally. This creates a consumption-driven economy rather than a production-driven one.
- GDP growth
- GDP growth reached 8.4% in 2025, driven primarily by remittance inflows and construction activity rather than manufacturing export capacity.
Supply Base & Infrastructure
Supply Base & Infrastructure
- Industrial base
- Manufacturing is extremely limited. TALCO aluminium smelter is the dominant industrial facility. Cotton ginning, gold mining, and basic food processing represent the remainder of the industrial base.
- Infrastructure quality
- Landlocked and mountainous geography creates severe infrastructure constraints. Road networks are poor, particularly in eastern regions. No rail connections to China. World Bank LPI ranking is among the lowest globally.
- Power supply
- Hydropower provides over 90% of electricity but seasonal variation creates winter shortages. The Rogun Dam (under construction) will increase capacity but completion timeline is uncertain.
- Connectivity
- No direct container shipping access. All exports require overland transit through neighbouring countries. Internet connectivity and digital infrastructure are underdeveloped.
Trade Access & Business Environment
Trade Access & Business Environment
- WTO membership
- Tajikistan joined the WTO in 2013. This provides MFN treatment but practical trade facilitation remains weak.
- EU GSP
- Tajikistan benefits from EU GSP (standard arrangement), providing preferential tariff access for eligible exports.
- CIS and EAEU
- Tajikistan is a CIS member but has not joined the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), unlike neighbouring Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. This limits regional trade integration.
- Business environment
- TI CPI 2025: 19/100 — one of the lowest globally. Regulatory environment is opaque. Foreign investment faces bureaucratic obstacles, corruption, and weak rule of law. Rahmon dynasty controls key economic sectors.
Innovation, IP & Quality
Innovation, IP & Quality
- Innovation capacity
- R&D investment is negligible. Patent filings are minimal. No significant technology sector. Brain drain to Russia and other countries depletes skilled workforce.
- IP protection
- IP protection framework exists on paper but enforcement is effectively non-existent. Foreign IP holders face significant risk.
- Quality standards
- Quality management systems are not widely adopted. ISO certification is rare outside TALCO. Laboratory testing and certification capacity is extremely limited.
- Education
- Education system has deteriorated since Soviet era. Technical and vocational training is limited. University graduates increasingly seek employment abroad.