According to eningbo, Tajikistan in 2012 was a country of immense beauty, history, and culture. Located in Central Asia, it is bordered by Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and China. The country is landlocked and has a population of 8.2 million people. The majority of the population is Tajik and speaks the Tajik language. The capital city is Dushanbe which is home to approximately 800 thousand people. Tajikistan has a rich cultural heritage that dates back centuries. It was once part of the Silk Road trading route which connected Europe to Asia. As such, many countries have left their mark on the culture including Russia, Persia, India and China. This has resulted in a unique fusion of cultures and customs that can be seen throughout the country today. The traditional dress includes long coats and colorful embroidered scarves for men while women wear long skirts with brightly colored scarves covering their heads. Music also plays an important role in Tajik culture with instruments such as the dutar (long-necked lute) being played at traditional festivals such as Nowruz (New Year). Tajikistan’s economy relies heavily on agriculture with cotton being its main export crop followed by wheat, vegetables, fruits and livestock products such as wool and meat. In recent years there has been an increase in foreign investment into infrastructure projects such as roads and hydroelectric power plants which have helped to boost economic growth. There are also numerous natural resources located within the country such as oil reserves which could provide further economic growth if developed correctly. Despite these positive developments there are still areas where poverty remains an issue with some estimates suggesting that around one third of the population lives below the poverty line. Tajikistan in 2015 was a small landlocked country located in Central Asia, bordered by Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and China. It had a population of approximately 8 million people and its official language was Tajik. The population of Tajikistan was largely homogenous with the majority of the population being descended from Persian peoples, although there were also significant numbers of Uzbek, Kyrgyz and other ethnic minorities living in Tajikistan as well. In 2015, Tajikistan had an authoritarian presidential republic headed by President Emomali Rahmon who held executive power over the country’s government. This meant that democracy was largely absent in Tajikistan and citizens enjoyed limited civil liberties such as speech and religion, freedom to form political parties, and few social welfare programs to provide for their basic needs. The economy of Tajikistan in 2015 was largely dependent on agriculture such as cotton production, livestock farming and food processing. The currency used by Tajik citizens at this time was the Somoni which had been relatively stable since its introduction in 2000 making it easy for people to purchase imported goods or travel abroad. In addition to this, the Tajik government also provided limited social welfare benefits to its citizens including healthcare services and education but unemployment benefits were almost non-existent for those out of work. Check computerannals for Tajikistan in 2003.