DUSHANBE, December 10, 2014, Asia-Plus — Issues related to cooperation between Tajikistan and Japan have been discussed in Dushanbe.
Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and ministries and agencies of Tajikistan reportedly held the first portfolio meeting on December 10 to seek alignment of a new development strategy of Tajikistan, which will replace the “National Development Strategy up to 2015” and JICA Country Analysis Paper Strategy for Tajikistan (JCAP), to review the progress of implementation of the projects, as well as to discuss future cooperation directions and opportunities.
JICA Tajikistan Office notes that given that JICA’s assistance volume for Tajikistan is growing, as well as considering the fast-growing development context of Tajikistan, there is a need to be well-familiarized with latest strategies and updated information of each side. To this end, JICA initiated the first-ever strategic meeting between Tajik side and JICA on comprehensive assistance delivery.
The participants of the meeting included a delegation of JICA from Tokyo and JICA Tajikistan Office, as well as high and medium level representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affair, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Economic Development and Trade, State Committee on Investment and State-owned Property Management, Ministry of Transport, Ministry of Health and Social Protection of Population, Ministry of Energy and Water Resources, Barqi Tojik (the state-owned utility responsible for generation, transmission, and distribution of electricity in Tajikistan), Agency for Land Reclamation and Irrigation, Government of Khatlon Province, State Unitary Enterprise (SUE) Khojagii Manziliyu-Kommunali (KMK – the central governmental agency responsible for water supply and wastewater services).
The sides reportedly discussed the progress on JCAP Strategy and on-going projects, and identification of obstacles and solutions for those obstacles on JCAP Strategy and project implementation, current status and needs on the Tajik economy and society, alignment between JCAP Strategy Targets and Tajikistan’s Development Target. As a result, a comprehensive discussion for future cooperation ensued where Tajikistan Government representatives highlighted development priorities of each ministry and agency and expressed a hope to continuously expend cooperation.
The Japan International Cooperation Agency is an independent governmental agency that coordinates official development assistance (ODA) for the government of Japan. It is chartered with assisting economic and social growth in developing countries, and the promotion of international cooperation.
The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) started providing technical assistance to Tajikistan in 1991, and Representative Office of JICA in Tajikistan was established in 2006.
