DUSHANBE, April 5, 2013, Asia-Plus — Tajikistan must solve power supply problems and any program, whether it be the hydroelectricity program or any other one, is coupled with environmental protection programs, Mr. Kaushik Basu, Senior Vice President for Development Economics and Chief Economist of the World Bank, told journalists in Dushanbe on April 5.
He noted that he was not quite aware of issues related to construction of the Roghun hydroelectric power plant (HPP). “However, this and other projects are connected with alleviation of poverty in Tajikistan,” Mr. Basu noted.
Mr. Kaushik Basu noted that Tajikistan’s poverty reduction achievements were quite impressive. According to him, remittances play an important role in Tajikistan’s economy, keeping many families in the country above the poverty line. “However, dependence on remittances should not be strong,” said the World Bank chief economist. “Tajikistan ought to invest in development of infrastructure and modernization of plants and factories – this will promote development of the country’s economy.”
Mr. Basu said that improvement of population’s access to high-quality education and health care, food security and solving winter power supply problems remained top priorities for Tajikistan and the World Bank Group, “because they are mandatory components for eradication of extreme poverty.”
He further added that corruption could impede the process of reduction of poverty. “It is necessary to combat corruption as well as avoid fixation and regulation of prices in order to avoid an acute deficiency in any essential goods,” Mr. Basu noted.
According to data of the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade (MEDT), the poverty rate is on a sustainable downward trend in Tajikistan. The Tajik poverty rate reportedly decreased from 50 percent in 2008 to 46.7 percent in 2009, 45 percent in 2010, 41 percent in 2011 and 38.3 percent in 2012. Tajikistan’s Livelihood Improvement Strategy (LIS) for 2013-2015 expects the Tajik poverty to decrease to 31.5 percent by 2015.
