Tajikistan Country Commercial Guide
Learn about the market conditions, opportunities, regulations, and business conditions in tajikistan, prepared by at U.S. Embassies worldwide by Commerce Department, State Department and other U.S. agencies’ professionals
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General Overview

Tajikistan has a population of 10.6 million with 4.9 million internet users who could be potential buyers of online products and services. Mobile e-commerce has gained popularity in Tajikistan due to the widespread use of smartphones, making shopping more accessible. Social commerce is on the rise, with businesses leveraging platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Telegram for direct sales, fostering online communities and supporting small local businesses. The government has started recognizing e-commerce as a key growth sector and has initiated efforts to modernize digital payments and improve regulations. However, key challenges remain, including limited integration with international payment systems like PayPal, unreliable logistics, and evolving regulatory frameworks. Despite these issues, Tajikistan’s e-commerce sector is expanding, with significant potential for growth, particularly among younger, tech-savvy consumers.

Chinese online marketplaces such as Pinduoduo and Taobao are gaining increasing popularity among the Tajik population. An increasing number of Tajik and Chinese logistics companies now offer lower-cost shipping options from China. In Dushanbe, several major collection points are established for receiving goods from these platforms. Order sizes range from wholesale purchases made by businesses to small, individual orders places by private customers. Well known Russian marketplace Wildberries entered the Tajik market in early 2025. The platform offers Tajik customers over 8 million products with delivery times of 10-14 days and operates pickup points in Dushanbe and Khujand in partnership with local company DC Market.

Licensing requirements for parcel delivery companies have driven all the international companies out of the market in 2017 and created a thriving grey market for last-mile delivery to consumers and businesses. DHL has reentered the market in 2021 and remains commonly used for international shipments.

In Tajikistan several online platforms continue to grow, such as online marketplace somon.tj, alif mobi, shef.tj, gelos.tj, and obbo.tj and several companies are working to enter the market.

E-commerce may be a potential niche for U.S. companies to apply their expertise to develop the market in Tajikistan.

The most prominent banks that integrate FinTech solutions are Alif Bank (develops its own digital ecosystem uniting Alif Pay, Alif Shop, Alif Tech, and Alif Mobi), Dushanbe City Bank, Micro Deposit Organization Humo, Eskhata Bank, and Imon Bank. Notably, Imon, Alif, and Humo were established initially as micro-loan organizations. Most of them depend on Russia for international transfers. According to estimates, 80 percent of corresponding accounts were in Russian banks before the Russian invasion of Ukraine. After February 2022 Tajik banks and microfinance organizations actively seek new corresponding accounts in Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, Turkey, and Georgia.

Regulatory Environment

2019 saw the publication of the Concept for a Digital Economy in Tajikistan, followed in December 2022 by the first e-commerce law in the country. 2022 also saw the publication of a new tax code whose intention was to simplify and streamline the taxation regulatory environment. The tax system remains complicated, with high tax burdens, arbitrary penalties, and unduly targeting tech startups and digital products.

Despite the slow growth and reluctance of the government to pass legislation easing restrictions on e-commerce, demand is rising both among businesses seeking to outsource support services and among retailers seeking to expand the reach of their markets.

Consumer Behavior

Most Tajiks continue to purchase items by visiting brick-and-mortar stores and conducting cash transactions due to low internet connectivity and underdeveloped parcel services. 

Digital Marketing and Social Media

Digital marketing and social media activity is growing in popularity and practice among Tajik youth, the largest segment of the country’s population.

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