The key facts

  • Mishustin proposed an SCO working group on the space economy and joint work on AI initiatives
  • An action plan for implementing the SCO program of multilateral trade and economic cooperation was approved
  • Tajik Prime Minister Rasulzoda: trade turnover with SCO countries — $6.3 billion in the first 8 months of 2026, up 32%

Russia's proposals at the meeting in Dushanbe

Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, at the meeting of the SCO Council of Heads of Government in Dushanbe, proposed creating a working group on the space economy within the organization. According to him, the group could operate within the framework of meetings of SCO ministers responsible for foreign economic relations. “We hope that our partners will support this initiative,” he said.

Cooperation in the field of AI

Mishustin also proposed instructing the relevant agencies to jointly work through the initiatives of SCO member states to expand cooperation in the field of artificial intelligence, noting that this would strengthen technological sovereignty and increase the competitiveness of economies. He said that Russia is developing its own large language models, increasing computing capacity, and expanding the use of AI in the economy, public administration, and social services.

Trade and economic cooperation plan

According to Mishustin, the heads of government approved an action plan for implementing the SCO program of multilateral trade and economic cooperation. The plan is aimed at simplifying export and import procedures, increasing the share of goods with higher added value, and expanding cooperation in industry, energy, agriculture, finance, and banking. The Prime Minister called for more actively involving the SCO Business Council, the Interbank Consortium, and the Forum of Heads of Regions in this work.

Tajikistan's data on trade and investment

Tajik Prime Minister Kohir Rasulzoda, who chaired the meeting, said that SCO countries account for more than 70% of the republic's foreign trade. Mutual trade turnover in the first eight months of this year reached $6.3 billion, an increase of 32% compared to the same period in 2025. At the same time, direct investment from SCO countries into Tajikistan in 2025 amounted to just over $350 million — Rasulzoda called the gap between the growth of trade and investment evidence of significant untapped potential and called for more actively attracting capital, launching joint projects, and developing production infrastructure.

Tajikistan's economic growth

Rasulzoda noted that in recent years Tajikistan has maintained average annual economic growth of about 8% thanks to measures to ensure macroeconomic stability, accelerate industrialization, and improve the investment climate. He stated Tajikistan's readiness to offer its SCO partners broad opportunities for mutually beneficial cooperation.