DUSHANBE, July 5, 2016, Asia-Plus – The Asian Development Bank (ADB) plans to support inclusive economic growth in Tajikistan with an estimated program of $241 million in 2016–2018.
This investment pipeline will fund structural reforms to strengthen the investment climate, develop transport and energy infrastructure, upgrade skills, improve water resources management, and shore up food security, according to the ADB’s website.
To support Tajikistan’s strategic economic development goals, the 2016–2020 country partnership strategy of the ADB focuses on: 1) deepening government-led reforms to achieve macroeconomic stability; 2) improving investment climate, diversifying the economy; and 3) increasing the country’s overall competitiveness.
ADB will supplement its infrastructure investments with focused knowledge solutions to help Tajikistan achieve fast, inclusive, and sustainable growth.
The indicative investment pipeline includes projects to rehabilitate the Dushanbe – Qurghon Teppa road, to improve food security, and to support water resource management. The ADB’s Tajikistan country operations business plan (COBP) for 2016–2018 also includes projects to help develop the energy sector and to reform the investment climate.
ADB assistance for 2016 is expected to be $70 million, followed by projected investments of $85 million and $86 million in 2017 and 2018, respectively.
However, final amounts will depend on the country’s performance and availability of ADB funds. The decision on the share of loans and grants in the total assistance package will be based on Tajikistan’s debt distress classification jointly prepared by the IMF and World Bank, and in accordance with ADB’s grant framework.
Tajikistan joined ADB in 1998, and to date ADB has approved around $1.4 billion in concessional loans, grants, and technical assistance to the country. The ADB-Tajikistan partnership has promoted social development, upgraded and built new infrastructure, expanded agricultural production, developed the microfinance market, and encouraged regional cooperation and trade.
