First Number Plate Auctioned in Tajikistan!

The first auction in Tajikistan, selling “cool” number plates for cars, set the record: according to State Traffic Patrol Department Interior Ministry of Tajikistan, “0100” was sold for 40 000 somoni or $9100 ($1=4.36 somoni). “0707” was sold for 6500 somoni, while “0202” and “0808” were sold for 3600 somoni each.

According to STPD, there were 144 “cool” license plates at the auction, 35 of which were sold. Perhaps, if the auction was widely advertised the organizers would be able to sell more plates.

Overall, the organizers were able to collect over 80 thousand somoni, while the initial price for each number plate was only 75 somoni.

The next auction will take place on May 22. The source in STPD informed that all proceeds will be spent on the Rogun hydropower plant.

Meanwhile, in the opinion of experts, the news of the sale of the license plate for over $9000 produced ambiguous reaction in Tajikistan: official sources indicate that over half of population in this country lives below the poverty line while the average monthly salary is $60. The experts affirm that in the last years the gap between rich and poor has been increasing. In their opinion, nearly 5% of population can be considered as wealthy.