DUSHANBE, January 26, 2013, Asia-Plus – The Association of Banks of Tajikistan (ABT), the Association of Microfinance Organizations of Tajikistan (AMFOT) and the National Association of Small and Medium Business of Tajikistan (NAMSB) have singed a memorandum of cooperation.
The document was signed in Dushanbe on January 24 in the presence of representatives of international financial institutions active in the country, representatives of government agencies, business community and civil society.
Inaugurating the ceremony, the MAFOT chairperson, Ms. Shulamo Khoshokova, underlined the significance and timeliness of the signing of a tripartite memorandum and noted that joint cooperation would give an opportunity to support further development of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the country and to facilitate the process of the transformation into a market economy, press release said.
For his part, Minister of Economic Development and Trade, Mr. Sharif Rahimzoda, noted that joining of efforts of Tajikistan’s largest three business associations was aimed at promoting increase in domestic potential and further economic development of the country.
Cooperation of three business associations will promote improvement of investment and business environment in the country, development of the public-private partnership and reforms in Tajikistan, Mr. Christopher Miller, IFC Tajikistan Country Director, noted.
According to press release, the memorandum is aimed at raising professional level and expanding cooperation between organizations dealing with development of SMEs, banks and microfinance organizations in Tajikistan.
The Association of Microfinance Organizations of Tajikistan is a non-commercial organization unifying on a voluntary basis organizations involved in microfinance and other organizations interested in development of microfinance in Tajikistan. AMFOT reportedly started its activity in 2000 when several non-governmental organizations involved in implementing microfinance programs formed a Coalition of Tajik MFO on a voluntary basis to jointly address challenges and protect their rights and interests. AMFOT was officially registered in January 2004 and is one of the first organizations of this kind in the Central Asian region.
The National Association of Small and Medium Business of Tajikistan represents the interest of SMEs. Its main objectives are, amongst others and according to the website, an active role in drafting legislation and improving the business environment. The association also offers services for its members, such as trainings and seminars on various business topics; it is also actively and regularly involved in development aid projects.
Members of the Association of bank of Tajikistan include thirteen financial institutions: open joint-stock company (OJSK) Orienbonk; OJSC Agroinvestbonk; OJSC Tojik Sodirot Bonk (TSB); OJSC Eskhata Bank; OJSC Sohibkorbonk; LLC Microlending organization Imon International; closed joint-stock company (CJSC) Tajprombank; CJSC Bonki Rushdi Tojikiston (Tajikistan Development Bank); CJSC The First MicroFinance Bank; CJSC Fononbonk; CJSC AccessBank Tajikistan, CJSC Bovari va Hamkori; and Amonatbonk (Tajikistan’s savings bank).
